Whiplash from a waterpark ride?

2 days ago i was in noahs ark in the wisconsin dells...and i rode a ride called stingray. i went on a solo tube...the tube was not filled all the way with air.....but it wasnt really flat.....but you could tell it had low air. ...anyways when i went down the slide...its a steep drop, well my head slammed backwards, and i heard people around me like gasp, thinking i might have hit my head. i didnt...after i got up off the slide i had a slight headache and a bit of neck pain, it went away. I felt it come back slightly that night when laying in bed. yesterday the pain was there in full force...i noticed it was mostly in the front of my neck and it hurts when i even swollow. And when i turn my head side to side there is pain...my sholders and upper arms are also sore, but i dont know if that is due to playing in water...shoudl i see a doctor about this?

i might add i dont have health insurance...so...that is why i ask if it is worth going to the doctor

This is entirely possible that you got whiplash. Go see your doctor. Any sudden whipping force on your neck could cause this. A friend of mine got it from hitting a bump while waterskiiing.

I have experienced whiplash from a car accident. At first, you feel a little sore and can still move your head around. Then after a few hours, it starts to stiffen up. It then hurts more, and seems to spread to your shoulders and back. Your symptoms sound like this.

Also, since this is the U.S., you can probably sue the waterpark if they did not maintain the tube properly. You might want to contact a lawyer as well if the doctor confirms that you have whiplash.

If you do, post another question here asking how to recover from whiplash. There are more effective methods than conventional medicine prescribes.

yes you should that's terrible hope you feel better good luck!!

Yes! When in doubt, always see a doctor. Your neck might be sore from all that slamming, and maybe that strained your neck and shoulders. You might have something that needs looked at.

Yes, go to a doctor, but then you should see a lawyer about it! Sounds like grounds for a lawsuit against them for negligence and faulty equipment.

It does sound like a case of whiplash. Only if the soreness perists for over a week might you want to consider going to the doctor. Anything sonner for that except to control the pain I would consider a waste of money on the copay. Try cool packs at night, and extra strength tylenol. If you're sittng at home...try to lay as much as possible...to give your muscles a chance to relax from holding your head up. You might see that you recover more quickly if you don't do the things that hurt. You might also want to conisider getting a back massage. Since the muscles in your neck have sustained trauma, the muscles in your shoulders, and back, and even torso will be working doubletime to account for that. Get well!

Well, I would say that seeing a doctor to rule out anything more serious than whiplash is in order. But if it is whiplash, chiropractic treatments and massage will probably help you more than anything.