When you jerk your neck a little harder than usual, it can be concerning. A neck injury has the potential to develop into whiplash, which can range from minor to serious. Here are some of the signs of whiplash along with ways to treat it.
Signs of Whiplash
The most common and obvious sign of whiplash is pain in the neck. This can be either a constant pain, or a pain when you move your neck along one of its axes. Likewise, the pain can be very moderate to very severe, with implications on how to manage the injury. The pain resulting from whiplash doesn’t have to emerge right away; it can take up to 48 hours for whiplash pain to settle in.
Another symptom of whiplash includes tenderness in the neck and spinal area. Jerking your head can produce a misalignment in the vertebrae, causing pain when you press down on a certain area of your neck. After any kind of neck trauma, it is wise to gently feel along the length of your neck to make sure that there are no sore spots. Other symptoms include neck stiffness, decreased range of motion, and headaches.
How to Treat Whiplash
The treatment for whiplash depends on how severe the trauma was. For minor injuries, you should simply let the neck heal itself. The area may be a bit stiff or painful for a few days, but then the problem should clear itself up. You can also add ice in order to soothe the discomfort that you feel during the healing process.
If pain is a big issue, you can consider taking some pain medications. Start with an over-the-counter medication, and consider taking something stronger if that doesn’t work. Your doctor can advise you on what’s appropriate to take in your situation.
For neck strains that are persistent or severe, medical attention is necessary. It’s possible that your case of whiplash is underlying a more severe injury. According to a personal injury lawyer in Alexandria, sprains and severe strains will require a neck brace and possibly other interventions to make sure that further damage is not done.
When you have a trauma to the neck, it can be hard to tell exactly how serious the injury is. Whiplash is usually not serious, however, and you will know if your injury needs further inspection. Trust your body to let you know what you need to do to feel better.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.
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