Next Steps

Follow-up

If no serious injury is detected in the emergency department, then the patient will be allowed to return home and will be referred to their doctor for follow-up care.

• If you continue to have symptoms from your whiplash injury, contact the doctor. Examine this list of complaints and mention any that the patient may be experiencing:
  
  
  • Neck pain
    
    
  • Headache
    
    
  • Increased fatigue
    
    
  • Shoulder or arm pain
    
    
  • Back pain
    
    
  • Blurred vision
    
    
  • Dizziness
    
    
  • Sleep disturbance or irritability in young children
  
  
• Depending on the nature and severity of any continuing symptoms, the doctor may refer the patient to another doctor who specializes in the rehabilitation of these types of injuries. The doctor may also encourage physical therapy and monitor the patient for other injuries that may have been aggravated.