Yuriy Shepelyak MD - Interventional Sports and Spine Specialist in Dubai, UAE
[from Manhattan, NYC]
Regenerative Medicine (platelet rich plasma and prolotherapy specialist) - now in Mubadala Health
Tell# 800 77
[ Ссылка ]
Whiplash injuries are often managed conservatively, primarily through rest and physical therapy. In the initial stages of the injury, patients are advised to rest and allow their bodies to recover. Simple pain medications such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed to effectively control pain and reduce inflammation.
In cases where patients experience severe muscle spasms, muscle relaxants may be prescribed to provide relief. These medications help relax the muscles around the injury, as overreacting muscles can cause additional pain and discomfort.
Once the acute pain subsides, physical therapy becomes an important treatment option. Physical therapy aims to improve mobility, flexibility, and strength of the neck muscles, which is crucial to prevent muscle atrophy and loss of range of motion.
If a patient's condition does not improve despite conservative measures, further investigation is necessary. An MRI of the neck may be performed to rule out any serious underlying issues such as a herniated disk or compression on the spinal cord.
If the MRI results are normal and the patient still does not experience improvement, trigger point injections may be considered. These injections involve the use of lidocaine, a numbing medication, directly into the muscle knots or trigger points that have formed due to poor healing after the injury. Trigger point injections, in combination with physical therapy, can provide fast and effective relief.
In cases where trigger point injections and physical therapy fail to resolve the problem, the focus shifts to potential ligament issues in the neck. Prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are then considered. These treatments are highly effective, especially for patients who have not responded to other interventions. Prolotherapy and PRP injections have a success rate of over 85% in treating whiplash injuries. Ultrasound guidance is used during these injections to ensure accuracy, and while they may take several weeks to months to take full effect, they often provide long-lasting pain relief without recurrence.
0:00 - intro
0:03 - Oral Medications
1:30 - Physical Therapy
2:10 - Imaging/MRI
2:30 - Trigger Point Injections
3:55 - Prolotherapy and platelet-rich plasma Injections
