Cervical pain after a whiplash injury can make your limbs go numb

Amongst the many symptoms of a whiplash personal injury, cervical pain can be a key indicator of the condition and also a long-lasting and extremely painful side effect.

Most people know that cervical matters relate to the neck, but can't be more specific about what cervical pain actually is after whiplash.

The cervical part of the spine is a very complex area of the body, with nerves twisting their way to the cerebral body and the head which moves in numerous directions at great speed.

The turning movement includes 90 degrees of flexion (forward motion), 90 degrees of extension (backward motion), 180 degrees of rotation (side to side) and 120 degrees tilting to either shoulder.

What this means is that this part of the body has a great deal of freedom of movement and that constant messages are being relayed carrying information to the brain about how the head and neck should turn.

Complex, sudden and often erratic movements take their toll, however. They can make the neck and brain area more susceptible to pain and injury. Specifically, the sudden motion of a whiplash injury weakens the neck area and makes it more vulnerable.

What is in the cervical part of the spine?
This part of the body includes seven small vertebrae, intervertebral discs which absorb shock, the joints, the spinal cord, nerve roots, muscles and ligaments. The nerve roots exit the central spinal cord like branches on a tree.

What does cervical pain feel like?
There are two types of cervical neck pain - the first involves a dull pain in the neck which radiates down the shoulders and arms. Sufferers may notice that their arms, shoulders and hands suddenly feel weak.

One cause of this may be a herniated disc - a disc which sticks out of the spine and pinches the nerves. This type of neck pain may be sharp and acute. Read more about herniated discs.

The second type of neck pain isn't experienced as an acute pain and is usually felt as numbness or weakness in the arms or legs making it difficult to write and walk, giving you different temperatures in your limbs, poor balance and a stiff neck.

Whiplash compensation
You shouldn't have to suffer a whiplash personal injury in silence - even the smallest car accident can leave you with physical disturbances which can make normal life extremely difficult.

You may feel fine at first, and then notice physical symptoms like insomnia, poor vision, neck pain, dizziness and nausea. In a worst case scenario, your balance may be affected, and your limbs will go weak, making it impossible to carry out small daily tasks like washing and tying your shoe laces.

If the accident which caused your whiplash injury was definitely not your fault, Car Accident Advice Line may be able to help you. We can give you free legal advice from a team of highly experienced personal injury advisors who will deal with your questions sympathetically.

We guarantee that if your compensation claim is a success, that 100 % of all awarded damages will go directly to you. You won't have to pay us a single penny as we work on a no win no fee basis and we get all our costs from the other party.