Have I got whiplash or is it just my cold?

I was hit on the drivers side of my car by an idiot who was driving too fast. This was on Wednesday night and on Thursday morning and today I have had a headache which is all around the side of my head, particulary behind my ears and round the back of my head. I can move my neck but it feels generally stiff. I do have pain by it is not unbearable, it is situated around my shoulders and down my back, between my shoulder blades. When I move my head I feel the discomfort more in my shoulders and back than in my neck. Also when I walk my shoulders and back feel very heavy and as if they are burning. The thing is I also have a cold so is it more likely that my discomfort is being caused by this? People are telling me I've got whiplash but wouldn't I be in a lot more pain and not be able to move my neck at all if I did?

either way go to the dr

Not necessarily. Go to your doctors and get this documented as you will need medical records should this become a problem in a few months and you need to claim against the other driver.

Sounds like you have a classic case of whiplash. As long as the pain is not central down your cervical vertebrae (neck) then don't worry too much. If it is get it xrayed/examined now. It's the muscles in the side of your neck and shoulders that have been over strained and maybe even torn.
If you were knocked out at all or any lose of memory when it happened you should go to an Emergency department or doctor for investigation. If your still worried about your neck or it doesn't improve then get it x rayed. all the best.

Whip lash can come in many differen directions, and generally hits the day after you accident. , try some ice in the swollen part of your body, Ibprofin helps to take water from swollen areras. if it presist go to a doctor that does mulitation. You will need exrays.
Not a chriopractor.

Some time sitting is a bath or whirlpool with added epsion salt to the water helps take the pain out.
Your cold probably has added a few discomforts to your condition.
LOL
Jannette

You should go to your doctor and get it checked out.

I expect that the accident has been reported to your insurance company? If so then your injury should be reported too.

If it is whiplash you will probably need a course of physio, and the sooner that is booked in - the better. Whiplash, if not treated, can give you a lifetime of pain. Don't underestimate it.

it sounds like whiplash to me however a cold can intensify the pain for you so it might be a bit of both glad you are ok though

You are describing the effects of soft tissue injury. May want to have it taken care of before there is increased inflammatory process with accompanying swelling of the injured tissue.

The doctor of Chiropractic is well equipped to handle such injuries.

Whiplash is a layman term for post traumatic pain. However, if you were in a serious motor vehicle collision (MVC) you are expected to have pain, aches and soreness several days upto weeks of discomfort. That is why you should have gone to the ER for insurance claims and to be x-rayed to make sure there weren't any hairline fractures or other injuries. The ER MD usually gives you a combination of narcotic pain meds, anti inflammatories and skeletal muscle relaxers to manage your discomfort. Also a follow up doctor as a referral is given to make sure you are healing properly.