Chronic whiplash pain

Richard Seroussi; Virtaj Singh; Adrielle Fry

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2015.01.003

Chronic whiplash pain

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2015 May;26(2):359-73. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.01.003. Epub 2015 Mar 7.

Authors

Richard Seroussi¹, Virtaj Singh², Adrielle Fry³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, 3213 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite A, Seattle, WA 98102, USA. Electronic address: res@seattlespine.com.
² Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, 3213 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite A, Seattle, WA 98102, USA.
³ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Box 356490, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

PMID: 25952070
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2015.01.003

Abstract

Although most patients recover from acute whiplash injuries, those with chronic whiplash syndrome develop signs of central nervous system (CNS) amplification of pain and have a poor prognosis. In this context, specific pain generators from acute whiplash have been identified through clinical, biomechanical, and animal studies. This article gives a clinical perspective on current understanding of these pain generators, including the phenomenon of CNS sensitization.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Musculoskeletal; Neurologic; Physiatry; Review; Whiplash.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Central Nervous System / physiopathology*
Chronic Pain / physiopathology*
Chronic Pain / therapy
Humans
Pain Measurement
Prognosis
Whiplash Injuries / physiopathology*
Whiplash Injuries / therapy