Handling a Whiplash Injury

If you suffered from whiplash in a car accident, you should visit a chiropractor for headache relief, neck pain relief, and whiplash treatment in The Woodlands. Whiplash occurs when a trauma causes the head to quickly and forcefully jerk forward and backward, or from side to side. Because the signs and symptoms of whiplash might not develop until weeks after your accident, it’s important to visit a chiropractor for these whiplash treatments.

Ice, Heat, and Pain Management

A whiplash injury will cause neck pain and stiffness, headaches, a loss of range of motion in your neck, and a feeling of tension in your neck, head, and shoulders. The first method of pain management, neck pain relief, headache relief, and inflammation treatment is icing your neck. You can apply ice to your neck for 20 to 30 minutes every three to four hours for two to three days. You can also take anti-inflammatory pain medication for further pain management. After two to three days of icing your neck, you can apply heat using a wet towel or by taking a hot bath.

Immobilization and Activity Modification

If ice, heat, and pain medication do not prove to be effective methods of whiplash treatment, your chiropractor might recommend immobilization and activity modification. The most common method of immobilization is bracing the neck with a neck brace or collar. You should avoid doing activities that cause further neck pain, stiffness, or other whiplash symptoms. If you don’t experience neck pain relief or headache relief in one to two weeks, you should visit your chiropractor for further whiplash treatment.

Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Whiplash Treatments

Your chiropractor can provide more intensive whiplash treatments in his clinic. He might recommend chiropractic massage or physical therapy for neck pain relief. Aquatic therapy, cervical decompression, acupuncture, and soft tissue treatment have also proven to be effective whiplash treatments. Your chiropractor will develop a whiplash treatment and pain management plan that will offer headache relief, neck pain relief, and that will reduce stiffness and swelling and restore range of motion.