Hi Aussie, I think it is very hard to compare differant PN cases, so I can only share my experience of recovery, the longer I went completely symptom free the less severe any flare was, so seeing you at a stage of improvement but were still having some on and off days then I do think/hope a flare only is very likely, a whiplash would be a dramatic shock to the nervous system aggravating the already recovering nerves, a flare to me was normally only an aggravation or short periods of increased symptoms were only the nerves trying to reconnect again.
take care
Brian