Whiplash is a common injury sustained during car accidents as your body gets whipped forward and back as a result of the sudden movement. In severe cases, the neck can be broken or whiplash can cause permanent nerve damage that may require extensive surgery. However, in most cases, it is treatable, but it does cause a lot of pain and discomfort while it heals.

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Whiplash can also be caused by other incidents such as slipping and falling, tripping on an uneven sidewalk, getting tackled during football-or any other form of physical contact. The severity varies, but it is most common for people to feel neck pain or stiffness after the incident has occurred. The good news is, there are some simple things you can do to alleviate the pain. Here’s how to deal with the pain from a whiplash injury and recover quickly. 

Ice Your Neck

One of the quickest ways to relieve whiplash is by applying ice to the area. Ice helps reduce swelling, which can help decrease stiffness and pain in your neck. It will also reduce inflammation, helping the injury heal faster. You can use a bag of frozen vegetables or place some ice over a thin cloth over the affected area. Do this regularly for at least 48 hours after the incident occurred. 

See A Chiropractor

A chiropractor is a specialist in healthy spines and necks. It is important to see a doctor right away after the whiplash injury to rule out any fractures or nerve damage. Professional chiropractors have special equipment to help them see if bones are misaligned, which can be dangerous if not corrected quickly. If your neck has been misaligned, it’s best for you to keep off of it so that it doesn’t do more damage while it heals. Your chiropractor will give you exercises and treatments to help relieve the pain, encourage healing, and prevent any long-term damage as a result of the whiplash. With just a few small adjustments, you will notice a massive reduction in pain.

Get A Massage

Massages are a great way to unknot muscles and help them relax. It might be hard for you to get a massage after the injury, but it will improve your recovery time and reduce pain in the long run. Massages can also be used as an alternative treatment aside from pain medication. Just talk to your doctor before going ahead with any other treatments aside from what they have prescribed for you. Massages can also help you solve other issues such as stress or anxiety that could make whiplash worse by creating more tension.

Rest

Once you’ve taken care of the ice and the massage, it’s time to rest. Resting is one of the most important steps in healing whiplash. As mentioned before, whiplash can be pushed too far if not treated properly right away. Being overly active will only cause more harm than good so take time off and avoid any strenuous activity. Although this may be a bit of a setback in your fitness routine, you need to give yourself enough time to heal properly or you will seriously injure yourself.

Whiplash injuries should heal fully when given time. Just make sure you follow these steps to manage the pain and stay healthy. 

This is a collaborative post.