Relieve Pain From Whiplash Neck Pain

What Are The Treatments For A Whiplash Neck Pain In San Diego?

Whiplash neck pain is an injury that occurs to the cervical spine when the head has been rapidly forced backward or forward. Whiplash neck pain is one of the most difficult conditions to treat and certainly to fully cure. Recovery from whiplash neck pain will typically take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month.

The pain associated with whiplash neck can be sharp or dull and may increase with movement or sustained postures (for example, sitting at a computer in poor posture). As a result, a whiplash neck can involve what seems to be every single muscle in the neck. An injury to the whiplash neck can be prolonged or painful.

In this article, you find out what neck whiplash is and how to resolve it. The pain associated with neck whiplash can be harsh or mild.

What is a whiplash neck ?

A whiplash neck occurs when your head is suddenly jolted backwards and forwards (or forwards then backwards) in a whip-like movement, or is suddenly forcibly rotated. This can cause some neck muscles and ligaments to stretch more than normal (sprain).

The common cause is when you are in a vehicle that is hit from behind by another vehicle. Being in a vehicle hit from the side or front can also cause a whiplash sprain.

Damage to the spine or spinal cord sometimes occurs from a severe whiplash accident. This is uncommon and is not dealt with in this article. This article deals only with the common whiplash sprain to neck muscles and ligaments. It assumes that you have been assessed by a doctor and serious neck injury has been ruled out. Read more here.

Although symptoms may not initially be present at the scene of the accident, or even for several days following it, delayed pain resulting from a whiplash neck  is highly common.

Symptoms of Whiplash Neck

Most people experience neck pain either immediately after the injury or several days later. Other symptoms of whiplash may include the following:

• Neck stiffness
• Injuries to the muscles and ligaments (myofascial injuries)
• Headache and dizziness (symptoms of a concussion)
• Difficulty swallowing and chewing and hoarseness (could indicate injury to the esophagus and larynx)
• Abnormal sensations such as burning or prickling (this is called paresthesias)
• Shoulder pain
• Back pain. See more here.

Whiplash neck is a common injury in a number of traffic accidents caused by over-stretching and sprain of the soft tissues of the cervical spine.

How Can I Relieve Neck Pain Caused by Whiplash?

Neck Whiplash  Treatment Tips
1. Although your neck injury happened last week, you might try ice and heat. Ice helps to reduce swollen overstretched muscles and ligaments. Heat increases circulation and eases tight stiff muscles.

• Ice: Apply an ice pack for 15 minutes as often as once each hour.
• Heat: Apply heat (moist is best!) for 15 minutes every 2 or 3 hours.
• Skin Safety:
  Never sleep with an ice or heat pack!
  Wrap ice or heat in a towel to protect your skin.
  Discard punctured store-bought ice or heat products.

2. If your doctor agrees, try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. There are many such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve).

3. Move your neck gently to help prevent further stiffness. Read full article here.

Can Whiplash Neck Be Prevented?

However, a whiplash neck  can also be a result of physical abuse, amusement park rides or sports injuries. Severe whiplash neck can also damage to the spinal cord and can be fatal. A whiplash neck can occur when your head is jolted suddenly backwards and forwards in a whip-like movement.

Most patients with whiplash neck should consider chiropractic as their first choice of health care provision. If you find yourself cracking your own neck make sure to give us a call right away contact us here: (619) 831-8777. Our chiropractor experts are here to help you relieve any pain caused by whiplash.

Related Articles:
Get The Right Whiplash Treatment
Chronic Whiplash Pain

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