One of the injuries caused by vehicle accidents is whiplash. It is a neck injury brought about by the sudden extreme force which throws the head forward and then sharply back. Whiplash causes neck aches and weakened neck mobility.
Treatments for whiplash vary depending on the severity of the damage done. Medical personnel usually ask a whiplash-injured person to wear a cervical collar. Although this is part of the precautionary measures done to prevent further movement that might worsen the patient’s situation, it has been proven that those who have the liberty to move their neck after the accident will more likely heal faster than those who are confined to wearing cervical collars for several weeks. It has also been proven that whiplash-injured patients recover faster if they undergo exercises and physical therapies. In fact, physical therapy could be the best whiplash treatment there is aside from medications and surgery.
Symptoms of whiplash include neck and shoulder pains, dizziness, headaches, inflammation in the nape and numbness in the limbs. The pain that you feel may be caused by a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve is a result of a blockage in the nerve instigated by a pressure from the vertebrae. To reduce the pain, a physician may do physical therapy and chiropractic visits.
If you suffer from whiplash injury it would be best if you use stretching exercises to ease the pain in your shoulders and neck. You can do this by sitting straight in a chair while holding your chin. Push your chin in and then gradually advance the back of your head. You will feel that there is a stretch at the base of your skull. Continue moving the head until you can bear. If you cannot bear it anymore, hold the position for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat this procedure 5 times.
Consulting your doctor is advisable and essential. Trust your instincts. If you’ve had an accident and you recognize any symptom related to whiplash, go to the nearest hospital. Damages that are not attended immediately are more difficult to mend. You can wear a cervical collar for two to three days after the accident to avoid aggravating the condition. You can also ask your doctor about static magnet therapy which can also ease the pain caused by whiplash. Even in your home, you can treat your injury by doing an alternate of hot and cold therapy. Hot therapy is intended to promote healing by inducing faster blood circulation, while cold therapy is done to reduce muscle spasm, inflammation and pain.
