How long to get over whiplash?

[Soreneck]

A car drove into the back of mine last week, probably at 20mph, and jolted me hard.

I've had a sore neck and shoulders now on and off for about 9 days, from small shooting pains on the day to general aches - I thought it was better yesterday and now it's all back with a vengeance.

I'm sitting with a hot water bottle for now but getting a bit depressed, I miss being able to do exercise especially.

Anyone else had something like this and how long did it take to recover?

Have you tried physio? I had a similar neck problem and a couple of sessions did wonders.

No idea how long whiplash from a car accident takes to recover I'm afraid.

Thank you, I'm going to try and get a physio appointment on Monday, they're all closed round here over the weekend. Glad to hear you sorted yours, it's beginning to feel relentless to be honest.

It varies, depending on severity of the ligament injury.
I would guess you're on a 3 week trajectory.
Support your head/neck when you can.

Thank you @lljkk

I'll try to keep thinking that's it probably just another week or two.

As others said, it depends on the severity. The average is 2 to 3 months but it can be substantially longer or substantially shorter.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/whiplash/

Personal injury damages for "pain, suffering and loss of amenity" [law lingo for the type of damages] for whiplash is a common element of road traffic claims. It is also a very common element in fraudulent claims because it's easy to exaggerate. However it can be very severe and lead to time off work.

It is one of those things that develops so if you are ever in a road traffic accident especially if hit from behind, you should never just say to the other driver that you are fine and leave it because you never know. You could (as it appears @Soreneck has done) think you are ok and develop whiplash that becomes financially/personally damaging to you = if you can't work, or can't do your hobbies or can't do housework so have to pay a cleaner/gardener when you wouldn't otherwise.

You should always exchange details with a driver of a car who has hit your car even if you think you are ok and your car is ok as it is not uncommon to develop whiplash over the next few days.

This is something your car insurance needs to get involved in and they will want to send you to one of their doctors to be assessed

You'll get compensation for this

Well I feel sick at the thought of 2 to 3 months like this. I start a new hard-earned job in a few weeks and am near tears at the thought of how much this could destroy my career.

I didn't tell the other driver I was fine and got all of their details; their bonnet was caved in so it wasn't a minor bump. The insurers did mention compensation but I just couldn't see the point a week ago. I'll call them again on Monday when they reopen.

You would have initially been in shock and not felt the pain then. Point is you do now and it really hurts

It's a very open and shut case as they were at fault having gone into the back of you

I got whiplash from falling off a horse but didn't realise that's what it was.
It got to the point I couldn't lift my head off the pillow in the morning, I had to roll out of bed.
20 years later it still niggles now and then and I never did regain full range of movement, despite useless physio from the NHS.
It could be a long haul to get back to normal.

Someone went into the back of me in February and I sorry to said that I’m still having pain off and off in my calf. I did get physio and compensation through the insurance company. Please call them. They will be open today.

I had severe whiplash after a fall from height. Drs thought my neck was broken at first from how swollen and misshapen it was. 8 years later my neck is still really stiff if I put my chin to my chest and feels like I've slept wrong most of the time. I know my Grandad got whiplash from a car crash (minor) and developed arthritis in his neck in later life

Took 6 months for me, the main pain stopped after a few weeks but standing for long periods of time or carrying handbag or anything heavy wasn't really an option for a long while after.

I think mine took about 8 weeks but I had weekly massage and osteopath treatments (which I claimed the costs back for). You need treatment ASAP.

The sooner you get physio the better, then keep up the exercises they give you long term. You can claim for the physio costs and for the cost of their written report. Find a good private physio - you won't get an NHS appointment any time soon and speed really is of the essence.
I hope you feel better soon.
It can take years IME, but the physio is key and you should be looking for a pay out that will cover that.

If you have the other driver's details and may make a claim for compensation, in addition to the physio you should make a GP appointment so you have a medical record of your symptoms - plus they may prescribe something to help the pain.

Years
The migraines were horrible

Keep on top of your painkillers. Every 4 hours without fail. Keep moving.
Submit your claim via the OIC which is how claims are dealt with against insurers now. You don't need a solicitor. Just log into www.officialinjuryclaim.org.uk
You just fill in all your info and it will submit a claim to the other drivers insurers.

It's a very simple process and you will receive all of the damages which aren't much anymore as the government set a tariff.

Thank you all so much for replying (even if some of your answers have made me despair a little) - I'm so sympathetic for those of you who've struggled for years, it's so senseless and unfair.

I'll definitely get to physio the moment I can - I'll call everywhere first thing on Monday morning. I didn't want to make a fuss before assuming it would just get better.

In my case, it was 3 or 4 months. 3 weeks after I was hit, I went to the doctor
(I'd been hoping that the pain would go away) and he prodded and pulled, then pronounced whiplash. It began tailing off after the first two months.

I didn't help myself by lifting and carrying...

I've had repeat whiplash from age 17. It doesn't last months, just a few weeks. it's a ligament injury & those are basically only cured with time. You get easy repeats if you get an severe ligament injury before age 20.

DH had a similar kind of injury, ligaments, but shoulder not neck. He got surgery but that's because he could dislocate it rolling over in bed and the surgical technique is quite figured out. tbh, I haven't had WL in about 15 years. I am pretty meh about it now. Compared to all my other chronic injuries & weaknesses, it's been far less annoying.

My DC had whiplash. The car was written off. The initial impact was to the passenger side, the car spun and ricocheted off a wall and bounced back onto a barrier. Eight years later still has pain and needs occasional physio.
Whiplash covers many degrees of injury.
It really does need proper assessment.