Whiplash can generate several symptoms that may cause discomfort ranging from dull to intense types of pain. Either way, the new symptoms can interfere with your daily activities, making work, exercise, and even focus for work and family challenging.
Many people suffering from whiplash head to the medicine cabinet for short-term relief, but that’s not a sustainable solution and can even worsen your symptoms in the long run. Having an accurate diagnosis followed by treating the injury is the best way to manage your pain.
In this post, we’re giving you:
- Common whiplash symptoms
- Tips to naturally self-treat whiplash at home
- How your local chiropractor can provide lasting whiplash relief
- And more
If you’ve been in injured, such as in a motor vehicle collision/accident, your first line of defense should be to seek chiropractic care to ensure your body is safe and fully functioning. Read on to learn more about whiplash and naturally healing it.
Do I Have Whiplash?
Whiplash is typically the product of an injury, and since everyone can experience an accident or sports injury, everyone is susceptible to the condition. However, whiplash is not really a specific diagnosis, it is a mechanism of injury. Imaging saying you were diagnosed with a “sports injury”. You would realize it is not specific; was it an injury to the knee, the head, the shoulder? So remember this as you continue to read.
While many believe whiplash only appears due to a rear-ended car accident, that’s actually not always the case.
When the head is suddenly and violently rocked back and forth, the neck’s tissues and the cervical spine (the portion of the spine in the neck) may be compromised from the unnatural and forceful stretch. Even the low back is frequently injured in a car accident.
Common reasons for whiplash to occur include:
- A rear-ended vehicle collision or any type of motor vehicle collision
- A significant fall
- When the arms are strongly pulled
- A sports-related event, such as a tackle, hit, or push
- A blow to the chin, head, or body, often due to a physical altercation
The reaction to this type of trauma is typically inflammation in the beginning, in the neck tissues from internal tears and can create many symptoms.
Common neck related whiplash symptoms include:
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness and loss of range of motion
- Neck pain that worsens with movement
- Headaches
- Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back, and arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Lethargic tendency
- Dizziness
- Stress
- And more
Natural At-Home Solutions for Whiplash Pain & Symptoms
While the symptoms caused by whiplash can be debilitating, they can also be treated with natural solutions at home.
Tips to help relieve whiplash pain as you contribute to healing include:
Ice & heat therapy
- Ice the injury as soon as possible after your accident to reduce swelling and inflammation; this will also have a numbing effect that can supersede your discomfort.
- In the later stages of recover, one may apply heat to the neck, shoulders, and upper back to reduce muscle tension and promote healthy circulation to the area (only do this after reduced inflammation; heat can irritate inflamed tissues).
- At some point, one may apply each therapy for 15-20 minutes every 3-4 hours. When you start to utilize both, interchange them using the same session times.
Stretch & massage the neck & surrounding areas
Gently stretching and massaging the affected tissues will reduce muscle tension and pressure, nurture blood flow to the area, promote healthy and safe movement within the area, and reduce mental stress that can manifest in the neck and shoulders, heightening discomfort. Please note, you should have a doctor clear you of deeper internal injury where stretching would possibly provoke the deeper injury.
Get plenty of rest
The neck is almost constantly in use, as it supports the head, so provide it with adequate and proactive rest. This can be with a U-shaped pillow, headrest, or resting your head against the back of your chair or sofa.
You should also use a firm pillow to encourage alignment integrity as you sleep. Quality sleep is always essential, but especially so when injured. As we sleep, our bodies work in overdrive to restore and rejuvenate, so don’t skip on sleep while suffering from whiplash.
Visit St. Paul’s Best Whiplash Chiropractor for Lasting Whiplash Pain Relief
These at-home treatments are likely to be helpful in managing symptoms, but visiting our chiropractic care team will ensure your body is optimally recovering and provide a strategy that gets lasting results.
The chiropractic solutions we offer stimulate the body’s natural healing, never adding more trauma to the body but working with it so you get safe, effective results because we focus on the injury, not just the symptoms.
Chiropractic services we often use to treat whiplash include:
- Chiropractic care, including adjustments, acupuncture, rehabilitation exercises, soft tissue therapies, and joint-related therapies
- Disc herniation treatments
- Headache treatment
- Car accident treatment
- Work injury treatment
- And others
Getting professional care for your injury is a responsible step toward full recovery. Chiropractors offer several benefits that enhance the healing process.
Don’t let your whiplash symptoms get in the way of your routine. Book with our St. Paul whiplash chiropractor today. We’re prepared to heal your body so you can take back control.
