1. How Facet Disease in the Neck
Can Develop from Whiplash

2. Facet disease in the neck, or cervical region
of the spine, is a condition that most often
occurs due to the age-related wear and
tear that naturally occurs within the spinal
column. However, patients who have
suffered from whiplash may find that they
must deal with facet joint degeneration
earlier in life than others who have never
had a neck injury.

3. What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a nonmedical term used to characterize the neck
pain that can arise after a forceful forward-backward motion of
the head and neck. This abnormal motion is usually associated
with car accidents, sports activities, and accidental falls. The
sheer force of the forward-backward movement can injure the
cervical connective tissues (the supportive muscles, ligaments,
and tendons), which creates a weakness in the structural
integrity of the spine. Facet disease in the neck, also known as
cervical spinal osteoarthritis, can develop as a result, particularly
if the facet joints (the joints that interconnect the vertebrae and
allow them to move) have to work harder to compensate for the
area of weakness.

4. The Connection between
Whiplash and Facet Disease
Some studies have found that individuals who suffered
whiplash were about 60 percent more likely to suffer from
chronic pain associated with facet disease in the neck. A
capsule around each facet joint that releases lubricating fluid,
called a synovial capsule, may become
stretched due to whiplash
and the pain receptors
in the capsule may be activated.
Long-term irritation to the nerves
in the joint capsule can
permanently damage the joint
and the surrounding tissues.

5. What is Osteoarthritis of the Neck
(Cervical Facet Disease)?
Over time, the cartilage that lines the weakened facet joints
can wear away entirely – and this cartilage deterioration
around joints is the hallmark of osteoarthritis. Once the soft,
smooth cartilage coating has worn away from the neck’s facet
joints, raw bone is exposed. The bone-grinding action that
usually follows is what causes the pain, inflammation,
tenderness, and stiffness associated with spinal arthritis.
Additionally, bone spurs can form on the affected vertebrae,
and these bone spurs may compress the spinal cord or nerve
roots, which can cause radiating pain, weakness, numbness,
and tingling in the shoulders, arms, and hands.

6. Treating Whiplash and Preventing
Cervical Facet Disease
The symptoms of whiplash – pain, swelling, muscle spasms, and
headaches – may not appear instantaneously, so it is important to
see a doctor immediately following any neck injury so that symptoms
can be treated before they have a chance to get worse. To prevent
further damage and to reduce the possibility of a patient developing
facet disease in the neck, a doctor may recommend that a cervical
collar is worn to provide support for the head. The collar can help the
damaged connective tissues heal properly, which can help prevent
the development of unbalanced stress among the anatomical
components of the neck. Additionally, cold therapy and anti-
inflammatory drugs might be suggested to relieve pain and reduce
swelling associated with facet disease in the neck.