Leg Pain Caused by Whiplash
Whiplash describes pain in the neck caused by a physical injury--usually from the neck snapping back and forth. Leg pain is a common symptom of whiplash. It is important to understand what is causing your neck and leg pain so you can seek appropriate treatment and prevent long-term damage.
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Whiplash
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Whiplash and disorders associated with whiplash, known as WAD, refer to neck injuries that result after the neck has been thrust back and forth. Whiplash typically involves physical injury to soft tissues in the neck such as the ligaments, tendons and muscles. Symptoms include neck pain, swelling, tenderness, muscle spasms, headache, shooting pains and leg pain.
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Causes
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Whiplash is most commonly associated with car accidents, particularly when the automobile is hit from behind. However, whiplash can also occur from a fall, repetitive stress or strain, physical abuse or assault, sports injury or riding a roller coaster.
Sciatica
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Neck and back injuries can cause sciatica, a shooting pain down the legs. The term sciatica refers to shooting pain that runs down the back of the legs or tingling in the legs. It is caused from irritation or damage to the sciatic nerve, a nerve that runs from the spinal cord down to the hips and buttocks and then continues down each leg. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body and frequently the cause of neck, back or leg pain. Sciatica is not a medical condition, but a symptom of other medical conditions such as a herniated disk or whiplash.
Treatment
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Treatment for whiplash and sciatica includes cold compresses, pain medication, rest, massage, range of motion exercises and immobilization through the assistance of a cervical collar. Treatment for leg pain includes rest, pain medication and in some instances, physical therapy.
Warning
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The most common cause of leg pain is physical injury, but leg pain also can be a symptom of disease. For instance, patients with deep vein thrombosis experience chronic pain in the thigh and lower leg. It is important to talk to your doctor about any reoccurring leg pain or severe leg pain to prevent long-term damage or paralysis.
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