Injuries like whiplash can be serious health threats. You should treat this by going to your health consultant the moment you experience it. Whiplash is common in car accidents but it’s relatively easy to treat it. If you follow the treatment plan well, you’ll be back on your feet in no time.
A Brief Summary of Whiplash
The first step is to get a diagnosis. The medical practitioner will interview you about the events leading up to it. They will examine your head, neck, and arms. Tell your examiner how you feel when you have to move these parts of your body. They will also check your range of motion, tenderness, reflexes, and strength. Your limb’s sensations needs to be checked too.
Imaging tests are one way to confirm a diagnosis, though they don’t always show changes in the body after an accident. Imaging tests include computerized tomography or CT, X-ray, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI.
Treatment Plan
The treatment plan of whiplash targets three aspects of your life. It must control the pain, normalize your neck’s range of motion, and finally, it should also allow you to enjoy normal activities again. The course of action depends on how severe your injury is. Prescription medication and home-based care are common parts of the treatment plan. Aside from that, physical therapy and special treatments are may be needed.
Applying a hot or cold pack can relieve pain. This can prevent swelling by closing small blood vessels while you’re recuperating. You can alternate application of the two. You also need rest within 24 hours of the injury. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t engage in strenuous activity because it will hinder recovery. Muscle relaxants and foam collars are also frequently prescribed. Some medical practitioners may prescribe lidocaine injections to ease the pain.
The Mayo Clinic includes some alternatives to treat it. Some of these are acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage. If you elect to see a chiropractor, you’ll likely be subjected to manual manipulation and stretching of your neck. This treatment goes well with physical therapy. Choose this option for whiplash in Salt Lake City.
Exercise can also help you get better. Some exercises will improve your range of motion and strength. These exercises include rotating your neck side-to-side, rolling the shoulders, and neck bending, which is also good for your neck and head. It’s best to take a warm shower or apply moist heat to the affected area before exercise. This warms up your body before a workout.
Aside from exercise, you also need to attend physical therapy sessions. PT can help relax your neck after injury. They might apply some TENS on the affected area. TENS stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. This method aims to ease neck pain by applying electrical current to the affected area.
Self-Care Tips
The most important thing is to get some rest after the accident. Consider going to a physiotherapist if you’re having a hard time coping. Be mindful of your activities during this time. Listen to health advice so you can get better faster.
