[TheNorwegian]

Hello everybody,

I was stopping for red light and my car was almost standing still when i tried to put my (manual) gear in free position, but I did it too slow and my car "jumped forward".

My head made a classic whiplash motion, whipping backwards and then forwards. But i didnt hit the head rest and I thought that there wasnt enough energy to give me a concussion or whiplash. And that this happens to a lot of people everyday.

Its 2 hours ago and now my neck and shoulders are starting to tense up! This worries me.

Have any of you tried this? I am not sure there is enough energy to give me a concussion but what abouth a new neck injury? Or is the energy to little to worry abouth?

Any thoughts are welcome...

[Mark in Idaho]

Anxiety can cause the muscle tension. Maybe a massage would help. Or an activity that uses these muscles.

[TheNorwegian]

Thanks Mark. I have already ordered a massage from my girlfriend, and I try to refocus my mind on something else, but the question keeps bothering me: is a whiplash motion like that enought to cause a new neck injury or concussion?

[Mark in Idaho]

No, it is not enough energy to cause an injury. Muscle strain maybe but not likely.

[TheNorwegian]

Mark, how do you tolerate accidents like the one I described? I mean, it felt pretty violent that my head was forced backwards, but you are more matured than me, so I guess you have experienced something similar a lot of times - how do you react?

[TheNorwegian]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

No, it is not enough energy to cause an injury. Muscle strain maybe but not likely.

By muscles strain du you mean whiplash injury?

[Mark in Idaho]

Muscle strain due to whiplash. I would not call it an injury necessarily.

I have bumps all the time, some worse than others. I've learned to ignore them. I might ice my neck if I feel some stiffness but not often.

I can easily get very obsessed with a thought so I have learned to try to avoid getting the wrong thought started. It is much easier to stop the thoughts/anxiety before they start than to reign them in later.

Bumps happen.

I also have a strong startle response. If I do not take steps to settle my mind and body, that startle can magnify into longer lasting anxiety/thoughts.

A final thought. There is nothing I can do to fix these bumps, no matter how bad they are (other than icing my neck). So, what use is there in getting upset ? My pragmatic response seems to work well for me.

btw, I've have 14 concussions over 50 years, plus lots of bumps. Life goes on with or without me so I choose to go on, too.