Sometimes it takes hours to hit, but once you start feeling whiplash pain all you want to do is make it stop. If that isn’t bad enough, you can easily make things worse if you’re not careful. You have enough to worry about after a car accident. Let’s take neck pain off of that list.
Avoid these 5 harmful mistakes that can keep you from healing quickly and completely.
1. Driving Anyway
You need to work, buy groceries, pick up the kids. But, if your neck is too stiff or painful to turn, it may be unsafe for you to drive. The last thing you need is another car accident injury.
2. Just Lying Around
Managing auto repairs and insurance claims can really take it out of you. Wanting to just curl up and rest as much as possible sounds like a good idea and is, in moderation. Make sure you’re balancing both rest and movement to keep your neck from stiffening up.
3. Wearing A Neck Brace For Too Long
A neck brace may give you some support and pain relief and, unlike many other options, actually lets you move your neck. Unfortunately, back braces are a crutch instead of a long term solution. According to the NIH, wearing one, especially one that hasn’t been prescribed for you, can cause your neck muscles to start to atrophy.
4. Doing Too Much, Too Soon
Movement means flexibility when it comes to whipless. So, you want to keep moving, but going right back to your everyday life activities the same way you usually do can make your injury worse. A chiropractor can show you exercises and modified ways to do the things you need to get done without causing more damage.
5. Letting Whiplash “Heal On Its Own”
Trying to ignore the pain, or cover it up with medication, can lead to worse injuries, a stiff neck and shoulder, or even chronic pain. Why risk it, when healing whiplash treatments are as close as your favorite chiropractor?
More Than Just A Sore Neck
Why a chiropractor? Because when your head gets thrown around in a car accident, a fight, a fall, or during sports you haven’t just pulled a muscle. Whiplash is actually a type of spinal injury that can affect the bones in your back, spinal disks, ligaments, muscles, and nerves.
It’s important to get medical care as soon as possible to pinpoint what’s really wrong. Get back to school, work, and living life comfortably again. Moving your injury too much, or not enough can make your symptoms worse or even make them stick around longer.
- Neck Pain That Seems To Get Worse
- Arm & Neck Stiffness
- Headaches
- Shoulder Pain
- Upper Back Pain
- Arm Numbness & Tingling
- Tiredness Or Dizziness
- Sleep Problems
Get Chiropractic Help For Whiplash
Chiropractors are experts in spinal care and treatment. Post-accident whiplash care differs for every patient and will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries. If you have been in an accident, and live near the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, call us at Glacier Chiropractic for an appointment as soon as possible.
Don’t wait for the pain and stiffness of whiplash to settle in; the sooner we can get you in, the sooner we can get you on the path to wellness.
