Neck whiplash injury is a common injury that is usually sustained as a result of a car accident. It is a kind of neck strain or sprain that occurs when the neck is suddenly jolted as the result of a force. It can range from mild to severe and can take a long time to fully recover from depending on the extent of the condition and the effectiveness of the treatment and care that you receive.
If you receive the right care and attention, then you are likely to be able to fully recover from the injury within a month of the trauma that caused it.
This kind of injury is common when in a car accident the neck is jolted backwards with a sudden extension or with a sudden flexion, or forward movement, of the neck. When the condition is more severe it can also result in damage to the vertebrae, discs and ligaments around the top part of the back and shoulders.
This condition is most common after rear end car accidents and the symptoms can present themselves immediately or in the days that immediately follow the accident. If you notice any of the following symptoms after an accident you should consult your doctor for professional support and advice: dizziness, nausea, headaches, back and shoulder pain, unusual sensations around the neck and back such as tingling, pins and needles or burning.
While this kind of condition is generally related to the soft tissues, when you visit the doctor they will generally order neck and spine x-rays to eliminate the worry of spinal or skeletal neck trauma. Once they have ruled out any spinal or orthopedic damage, then they will be able to offer you the appropriate care to overcome the condition.
There are a number of ways in which your doctor or physical therapist may assist you with recovering from the condition. Often they will recommend that you wear a cervical brace to support the damaged muscles in your neck and upper back area. You are likely to have to wear the brace for a period of between two weeks up to six weeks.
Your doctor may also prescribe some medications to assist with the associated pain and to facilitate recovery. These medications may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling, inflammation and pain; analgesic pain relief and muscle relaxants. A physical therapist may give you some range of motion exercises to strengthen the muscles and relieve muscle tension. Sometimes they also offer ultrasound and heating to relieve the symptoms of the whiplash.
If you seek medical advice promptly, then the prognosis for full recovery is very good. Most people will recover within a couple of weeks, although some others will continue to have some headaches or neck pain for a time. If the extent of the injury is severe, then you will need to continue with physical therapy to aid recovery.
There are a number of exercises that you can do to assist your recovery from the condition, but you should always check with your doctor before doing them to ensure that they are recommended for your particular condition and circumstances. One such exercises is to gently tilt your head forwards, not moving your shoulders or back and then bring it gently backwards until you are looking at the ceiling. Then bring your head back to normal stance and repeat the movement five times slowly.
Another gentle exercise that may aid your recovery from the condition is to tilt your head directly to the side so that your right ear is moving towards your right shoulder. Then you return to the starting position and tilt your head to the left side. Repeat this motion 10 times at a slow pace.
A further exercise that can help to increase the mobility of your neck is to face forward and imagine that you are following an invisible horizontal line. Follow it from the left along to the right as far as you can. Repeat this movement 10 times. By doing exercises such as these with your doctor’s approval, you can reduce a lot of the stiffness and reduce the recovery time of whiplash.
Neck whiplash injury can be a very painful condition that can take a considerable time to recover from. However, if you seek out the right treatment and look after the condition, then you can drastically reduce the recovery time and reduce the pain and stiffness that normally accompany the condition. Make sure that you talk to your doctor and physical therapist for advice that is specifically relevant to your individual circumstances.
