Getting in a car accident is a scary thing for anybody. If you know what to expect from your body, it can be a little less scary. The most common injury from a car accident is whiplash in the neck. This means that your neck went through a backward and forward movement forcefully and quickly without muscle control.
These are typical symptoms:
- Onset of neck soreness by the end of the day.
- Significant pain and stiffness in the back of the neck and shoulders for 2 to 3 days afterward.
- Headaches in the base of the skull that may wrap around your head.
- Your head may feel heavy and be difficult to hold up.
- You may feel extra tired.
Here’s a starting point to help yourself:
- Apply Ice! Yes, it is cold outside, so put a heating pad on your tummy while you ice your neck for 20 to 60 minutes 3 to 5 times per day.
- Wear a scarf firmly around your neck to give your muscles a chance to relax and not have to work so hard to hold your head up. (It’s winter, so nobody will notice.)
Start gentle movements in your neck:
- Nod: Pretend there is a stick going through your ears. This forms an axis. Gently nod your head around the stick. You can do this lying down, but don’t lift your head off the pillow. Use only small movements.
- Neck rotation: While lying down with your head and neck supported and with extra good posture, gently rotate your head from one side to the other. Avoid pushing into pain.
Use good posture, because everything heals better when you’re in a good position. Pay extra special attention to your posture while doing these exercises:
- Shoulder blade squeezes: Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for 5 to 10 seconds. Repeat 2 sets of 10, and do them 2 to 3 times per day.
- Standing rows: With band or very light resistance on a cable machine, pull your arms back to a position where your elbow is at 90 degrees at your side. Don’t let your shoulders hunch up. Repeat 3 sets of 10, and do them daily.
If these things don’t help, and you’re not feeling better within a few weeks, then I recommend physical therapy so you can get an individualized program.
Tell your doctor and physical therapist if you experience the following:
- Numbness or tingling in your face, hands, or feet.
- Changes in your vision (double, blurry) or speech (slurred).
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, or nausea.
- Changes in bowel or bladder function.
- Coordination problems (dropping things, bumping into walls).
- Ringing in your ears.
For more information on whiplash, click here.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS and DRIVE SAFELY!
Hi Alpine PT,
After reading your blog on whiplash, I’m curious how long it takes to heal from this type of injury?
Also, is whiplash a soft tissue injury or does it involve the spine? Can it be both?
Thanks for the great information!
Thanks Terrel for your question. Ideally we like to see somebody healed up by 3 months but this depends on the extent of the injury and other individual factors. The majority of people are recovered by 1 year following. The second question is yes it can be both. Sometimes it starts off as a soft tissue injury but because your muscles go into shock, shut down, and stop doing their job you can lose strength and muscle control with movement. This can stiffen up the joints in your spine. In bad accidents there can also be fractures, disc injuries and ligament tears in the spine. These are a bit beyond a typical whiplash injury and therefore may take longer to heal. This is why getting checked out by the physician or reporting any of the symptoms I described is so important. Drive Safely. -Angela
Hello, I have been a patient of Brent Dodge. I want everyone to know that as far as I am concerned Brent and Sam and Gary helped me through a very difficult whiplash. Not only were they there for me physically but they were very aware of the emotional stress that a set back from an injury like this causes. I completed PT more than a year ago and I feel that my education and treatments from them helped me to understand how my body has reacted to my injury. Also they gave me exercises to apply in my everyday life that have assisted me in overcoming the daily challenges that I have faced with my neck. I would not even doubt the effectiveness of their care and professionalism. I am back on my feet and I know without a doubt that Brent and his associates were the biggest contributing factor in my healing not only physically but mentally. If you feel that you need PT do not hesitate to walk or crawl. They will no doubt help you. I feel that the time span has really helped me see the effectiveness of their treatments. They rate a 10 plus in my book. I will be forever grateful to them. Thank you Brent and staff.
Thank you for your kind comments, Darla. Treatment success has a lot to do with people like you who invest themselves in the healing process. Your results are likewise a testimony to your efforts both as a client and as you now diligently carry on with your exercises.
Best to you,
Brent
Recognition for another large post. I am pretty sure this piece has helped me save many hours of impression other similar posts just on the road to find what I was trying for. I just want toward say: Thank you!
Glad it was of some help to you!