Whiplash & Concussion-Like Symptoms in Scottsdale, AZ

A hard hit on the ice or field and a rear-end collision on the road look very different, but the body can go through the same thing. A sudden force moves through the body and into the spine, and it can cause underlying damage to the spine and the tissues around it.

This page explains what happens, why whiplash and concussion-like symptoms can linger, and how we evaluate and care for them. If you’ve been in a car accident, see also our auto injury treatment page.

How the force travels

Whether you take a hit to the shoulder in hockey, a direct blow to the head, or a collision in a car, the force travels through the body and into the spine like a wave. The greater the force, and the less prepared the body is for it, the greater the strain on the spine, including the joints, the discs, and the connective tissue such as ligaments and muscles.

Why ligaments matter

Ligaments stabilize the joints and bones of the spine. They receive very little blood flow, and blood is how the body delivers oxygen, water, and nutrients for repair. That is why ligaments can be slow to recover once they are stretched or damaged.

When ligaments can’t provide enough support, the spine can become unstable. That instability is often what makes the surrounding muscles sore. The muscles tighten so the body can stabilize itself and protect high-priority areas like the spinal cord.

Whiplash and concussion-like symptoms

Symptoms can appear right away or take hours or even days to show up. Common symptoms after a car accident or sports injury include:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Tension-type headaches, often at the base of the skull
• Shoulder and upper back pain
• Tingling, numbness, or burning in the arms and hands
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue
• Brain fog, memory, or concentration problems
• Irritability, anxiety, or low mood

Many of these symptoms can come from several different areas, which is why a thorough diagnosis on the first visit is so important.

How we evaluate

Because the cause of symptoms isn’t always obvious, we take our time. After a traumatic impact, your evaluation looks at:

• Stability of the joints and ligaments in the neck
• Muscle and soft tissue changes
• The spinal discs and nerves
• How your symptoms connect to the event that caused them

We also take stress films: X-rays taken at the end range of motion. They show whether the vertebrae stay aligned as the neck moves, or whether there is a positional change that a standard X-ray at rest would miss.

Treatment and next steps

Based on what we find in your initial examination, we may refer you for an MRI or a digital motion X-ray to look more closely at the deeper structures of the spine. Once we have all the information we need for your case, we can make a well-informed recommendation for your care.

Sometimes we are the only physician you need to see. Other times we co-treat with other physicians, such as pain management physicians, neurologists, or other healthcare professionals trained in traumatic injury. Either way, we are a great first step for anyone who has been in a motor vehicle collision.

Why this matters to Dr. Pope

Given my history as a former professional hockey player with career-ending whiplash injuries, I know how easily these injuries can be missed. Starting at age 14, I had repeated hits and a long list of symptoms, and for many years I was told it was simply my brain. I never felt that was the whole story. Years after retiring, I learned that ligament instability in my neck was a major piece of the puzzle. That experience is why I listen closely, ask thorough questions, and look carefully for the true source of a patient’s symptoms.

— Dr. David Pope, DC. Read Dr. Pope’s full story.

Seek emergency care first if you have a severe headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, weakness, or symptoms that get worse after a head injury.