Whiplash occurs when a person's head is suddenly jerked backward and then forward. This sudden movement stretches the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range, to the point of tearing. It also places significant strain on the cervical spine, which causes pain and discomfort. The medical term that describes the mechanism at work during this abrupt head movement is "cervical acceleration-deceleration" (CAD). The resulting injuries and symptoms are grouped under the term "whiplash-associated disorders" (WAD). In this article, we will use the common term, whiplash. Beyond the pain and discomfort, this trauma leads to other side effects, including tinnitus. We will help you answer this question: how long does tinnitus caused by whiplash last? But first, let’s examine this trauma, its causes, its symptoms, and its treatments in detail.
The causes of whiplash
Whiplash most often results from a violent impact. Any activity or event that suddenly jerks the head back and forth can cause it. Here are the most frequent causes.
Road accidentsRoad accidents, particularly rear-end collisions, are the most frequent cause of whiplash. It is actually one of the most common non-fatal injuries in a car accident. Whiplash related to an accident does not depend on the vehicle's speed: it is caused by the sudden jolt that violently jerks the head backward. The more sudden the movement, the more significant the damage. Note: the seatbelt can aggravate whiplash. While it reduces physical injury, it can accentuate cervical injuries by blocking the movement of the torso.
Assaults and physical violenceAny assault involving a blow, shock, or punch to the head can cause whiplash. Being violently struck or shaken can have the same effect. Whiplash is among the injuries present in children who are victims of shaken baby syndrome. This syndrome occurs when an adult violently shakes a child out of anger or frustration. This action often leads to irreversible brain damage, or even death.
Contact sportsSports such as American football, where collisions between players are frequent, expose participants to whiplash. Disciplines that involve an element of violence, such as boxing or wrestling, also increase the risk.
Leisure activitiesCertain leisure activities—bungee jumping, skiing accidents, theme park attractions such as roller coasters—can cause sudden movement of the neck and head, and thus whiplash.
How whiplash occurs
As we have seen, whiplash results from a sudden movement of the head back and forth, generally caused by an impact. The most frequent cause remains the rear-end car collision. To better understand, let's examine the progression of such trauma during a road accident. During a rear-end collision, five phases occur in a fraction of a second and result in the injury. Here they are
First, at the moment of the rear impact, the seat is pushed against the back.
The spine is subjected to excessive force, which compresses the cervical spine upward against the head.
The torso, in contact with the seat, accelerates forward. But the head, which is not supported by the seat, does not accelerate at the same time as the torso: the shape of the cervical spine is distorted as a result. It temporarily changes from its natural C-shaped curve to an S-shape. This abnormal compression and distortion can damage neck structures such as the facet joints and intervertebral discs.
Next, the head snaps backward against the seat that is accelerating. This sudden hyperextension of the neck injures the soft tissues located at the front of the neck.
Upon hitting the seat, the head rebounds and moves forward again. If you are wearing your seatbelt, it restrains your body. The neck then flexes very rapidly as the head moves forward, which this time damages the soft tissues at the back of the neck.
The symptoms of whiplash
In most cases, the effects of the shock are not felt immediately. The first symptoms may only appear several hours later.
Depending on the violence of the impact, the symptoms of whiplash can be as follows.
Neck pain and stiffnessThe sudden back-and-forth movement and the impact of the head and neck against the seat cause neck pain and stiffness of varying intensity.
Loss of range of motionThe rapid movement of the neck stretches its ligaments and muscles beyond their normal range, which leads to a temporary loss of cervical mobility.
Pain or tenderness in other parts of the bodyThe head and neck are not the only areas affected by whiplash, especially when it follows a collision. In most cases, you will feel pain and tenderness in the arms, shoulders, and upper back. Numbness and tingling in the arms are also possible.
Headaches and dizzinessThis is a frequent symptom for most whiplash victims. The sudden movement of the head and neck triggers headaches, which often start at the base of the skull. You may also experience temporary dizziness or a loss of balance.
Pain with neck movementUnder the effect of the violent impact and the tearing of soft tissues at the front and back of the neck, every movement of the neck becomes painful.
Other symptomsDepending on the intensity of the shock and the extent of the injuries sustained by your head and neck, other symptoms may appear: irritability, depression, temporary memory problems, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disorders. Most disappear in a few days, but some signs indicate that the whiplash is severe. Urgent medical attention is required if you present any of the symptoms below. Cervical instabilityNumbness, weakness, tingling, or pain radiating into the arm, shoulder, and hand. Behavioral changes or psychological disorders: depression, irritability, sleep disorders, decreased concentration. Balance and coordination disorders. Intense or unbearable pain.
How long does tinnitus last after whiplash
As we said, tinnitus is one of the symptoms or side effects of whiplash. Tinnitus refers to the perception of noise in the ear when no external sound source exists. This noise can be high or low-pitched, loud or muffled, and manifest as whistling, buzzing, hissing, rumbling, clicking, or roaring. Among veterans, whiplash is the cause of some of the most severe cases of tinnitus. The sudden back-and-forth movement of the head, caused by a violent shock, can damage the intervertebral cartilage, ligaments, and nerves of the neck, and trigger tinnitus. Furthermore, whiplash-related tinnitus does not stem solely from this sudden head and neck movement: it is also caused by the acoustic trauma of the airbag deploying. Moreover, exceeding the normal range of motion of the head and neck (hyperextension and hyperflexion) can cause the mouth to open and close abruptly. This sudden opening and closing causes the elongation and then compression of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can cause dysfunction of this joint. Yet, a TMJ disorder is one of the major causes of tinnitus. Now that we understand how whiplash can cause tinnitus, let's see how long it lasts. After whiplash, the first thing to do is to consult an audiologist or an ENT doctor. Even if you feel no pain right after the accident, pain and side effects often only appear several hours later. Consulting immediately helps limit the consequences of the trauma. Delaying the consultation can cause much more damage than you might imagine: in some cases, side effects that should have remained temporary become permanent. The aftereffects of whiplash, such as tinnitus, require rapid management to avoid any worsening. If your ear injuries are mild, the tinnitus may disappear in a few hours or a few days. However, if the injuries are severe, it may be permanent. The doctor will then offer you tinnitus retraining therapy or a hearing aid capable of masking it. There is no standard time for tinnitus related to whiplash to disappear: it can fade in a few days, persist for months, or remain for life. It all depends on the extent of the damage. In some cases, factors such as age or medical history can aggravate the tinnitus caused by the trauma.
Conclusion
You cannot control certain situations, such as accidents likely to cause whiplash, but you can limit your participation in sports and leisure activities that carry that risk. If tinnitus appears after such trauma, consult your doctor. Even if there is no direct cure for tinnitus, identifying and treating the underlying problem can speed up its disappearance. And if you have been diagnosed with permanent tinnitus, do not be discouraged: many medical solutions exist to help you lead a normal daily life. Have you ever experienced whiplash? Did tinnitus follow? How long did it last? Share your experience with us at CLARIA.
