The neck pain after car accident scenarios requires proper care and treatment. More than this, it could also be a symptom of more severe illnesses threatening your well-being. Among the causes of neck pain and injuries is when you get yourself in accidents.
Studies and data from Mayo Clinic show neck pain as the fourth leading cause of disability, with a prevalence rate of more than 30 percent in patients.
There are several causes of neck pain, including neck pain after car accident, sleeping on too high or too flat pillows, odd postures while watching TV or working, and stress, to name a few. The pain may range from the stiff sensation, or unmanageable to severe pain that may spread to your shoulders, upper back, or arms. Movement may be limited and cause headaches.
You can find yourself involved in various accidents at specific points of your lifetime. Such accidents cause neck pain that may last only hours to several months, depending on the injury's causes. What are these accidents that cause neck pain?
When you find yourself in any of these, even without feeling the pain in the first few hours, you should immediately consult with your physician to minimize the impact. Known as whiplash, the neck pain after car accident is likened to “cracking of a whip”.
For instance, a car accident or collision involves the neck in a rapid and forceful back-and-forth movement that may develop within a day after the injury. You may feel no strain after the incident, but upon waking up the next morning, that’s when the excruciating pain happens.
Symptoms of neck pain caused by accidents are:
Other symptoms of whiplash are irritability, difficulty concentration, memory problems, depression, blurred vision, and difficulty sleeping.
Many people who get into accidents feel better in a few weeks, even with minimal neck pain treatment. Depending on the severity of the accident, the pain may last for several months and even years. Chronic pain happens when symptoms include limited motion range, severe neck pain, and pain that reaches the arms.
Taking extra precaution while driving on the road, or while at work will get you away from the accident. However, once they occur, you have no option but to manage the pain after that.
Upon feeling the pain or strain of the neck pain after car accident, ice the affected area to reduce the swelling. Do it as soon as possible after the injury. Have this for 15 minutes every four hours for three days. Use a clean cloth or towel to wrap the ice. A diet with fruits and vegetables, fish, healthier fats, lean meat, protein, and whole grain, while avoiding processed foods, is also recommended for neck pain treatment.
Before taking any painkillers and medications such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, consult with your doctor to manage the side-effects. There are instances the physician may recommend the neck brace or the collar, depending on how worse the injury is.
Part of the treatment may also come two to three days after icing the affected areas. Do this by having moist heat upon your neck, but only after the initial swelling has faded out. Use a warm, wet towel, and you can also take a warm bath to relieve neck pain. Getting a therapeutic massage may also minimize the pain.
Simple as it may sound, to complete the treatment for neck pain involves choosing the right pillow. The best pillows for neck pain are ergonomically designed by orthopedic experts to ensure they have the most precise form to offer optimal support.
Memory foam pillows accurately follow the shapes of your head, neck, and shoulders. ComfyCentre provides them in the catalog with moisture-regulating and breathable covers to balance out temperature, avoid unnecessary sweat, and prevent tapping the pillow right in the middle of the night.
Orthopedic pillows are ergonomically-designed not solely for your neck but also for managing back and knee pain. The brand's vision with these carefully selected life-changing products has always been to help people be at their best each day.
No one deserves to suffer long-term and devastating pain from the accident you find yourself into at any given point in your lifetime. While the neck pain will happen thereafter, you can prevent it from bringing misery to your day-to-day activities.
Preventive action should be a step to take to relieve the neck pain. When caused by unpredictable accidents, pain around the neck or shoulders could be inevitable, but you can minimize their consequences.
Dealing with the neck pain from the accident could be a challenge. With adequate health solutions, the path to healing will be easier to attain. Having insights on the right treatment will let you live your life to the fullest, for the community and your family.
