How to Manage Neck Pain Following a Car Accident

In the United States alone, about six million car crashes occur yearly. These incidents lead to roughly three million Americans sustaining injuries.

While car crash injuries can affect any part of the body, the neck is among the most common sites affected. One reason is that, unlike the body held in place by a seatbelt, nothing much protects the head and the neck during a collision. So, at the moment of impact, the head and neck can jerk back and forth or side to side in a sudden, rapid motion.

That’s why neck pain following a car accident is quite prevalent. 

The good news is that there are several ways to manage and improve post-accident neck pain recovery. We’ve shared our top neck injury management tips in this guide, so please read on. 

Immobilization

In many cases, neck pain following a car accident is due to whiplash, one of the most common types of crash injuries. It results from the rapid and sudden movement of the neck during a crash, which is similar to the action of a whip; hence, the term. This abnormal movement can strain the neck, back, and muscles.

Whiplash injuries are so prevalent they affect around three million people in the U.S. yearly. Left untreated, they can result in chronic neck pain after a collision. Indeed, about half of people who sustain them experience long-term symptoms.

Immobilization is often the first line of treatment for these neck injuries. It usually involves using a rigid frame that keeps the head and neck aligned, preventing the vertebrae from damaging or pressing on the spinal cord. It also helps prevent the neck muscles from carrying the head’s weight, which can hurt a lot if you have injured neck muscles.

Your doctor can guide you on the most appropriate immobilization device for your case.

Rest for a Few Days

Resting, but only for a few days, is a critical strategy that can help provide neck pain relief from car accident injuries. Part of this is to avoid strenuous activity, which can make the neck muscles flex or move, potentially worsening the injury and pain. The pain should improve in a few days if your injury isn’t severe.

Cold or Ice Therapy

Another post-car accident neck pain treatment you can try soon after the crash is cold or ice therapy. It can help reduce inflammation or swelling, which contributes to pain. It can also help numb the area and make it feel less sore.

You can apply an ice pack or cold compress on your neck for ten to 15 minutes. You can do this once every hour on the first day of your injury. The next day, you can ice your neck once in the morning, once at noon, and about an hour before bedtime. 

Switch to Heat

Heat therapy may also help improve acute and chronic pain. In the case of a neck injury, you can try this remedy about two to three days after applying cold or ice therapy. However, check or “feel” your neck first to see if it’s still swollen; otherwise, you can switch to heat therapy.

You can apply a warm compress to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes, up to three times daily. That can help dilate the blood vessels, boost circulation, and promote the healing of injured muscles. 

Chiropractic Treatment

While painkillers may lessen pain, they only relieve the symptoms and don’t address the underlying cause. Moreover, they can have harmful side effects and dangerous addictive properties.

Chiropractic treatment is a holistic approach that doesn’t rely on medications. It’s also non-surgical and non-invasive. By addressing the underlying cause of the problem, chiropractic treatment can help relieve symptoms.

Doctors of chiropractic or chiropractors can help you manage your neck pain following a car crash through:

• Postural analysis
• Joint or spinal manipulation to gently realign the joints
• Providing expert advice on stretching routines or exercises that can help with neck recovery
• Electronic stimulation to provide pain relief
• Soft tissue therapy

So, if you’re looking for a drug- and surgical-free way to treat your neck injury, consider chiropractic care. Your chiropractor can also help with many other conditions, such as sciatica, muscle stiffness, and back pain. Their holistic approach can even aid in combatting frequent headaches and arthritis! 

Physical Therapy

Like chiropractic care, physical therapy is a drug-free and surgery-free approach to treating neck pain following a car crash. The exact steps vary, as your physical therapist will tailor your treatment program to your needs. However, these programs usually include massages, exercises, and using stimuli such as heat, cold, ultrasound, or electrical currents.

Physical therapy’s primary goal is to provide the following benefits:

• Ease pain and reduce stiffness
• Strengthen weakened muscles
• Improve the range of motion of the head and neck

Your physical therapist will also develop strategies you can follow at home or at work to prevent pain from worsening or recurring. These can then help you regain your neck’s optimal health and allow you to move better. 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture originates from traditional Chinese medicine and involves inserting fine needles through the skin. Acupuncturists then manipulate them either manually or by stimulating them with tiny electrical currents.

Acupuncture can help boost circulation and reduce inflammation. It can also encourage the release of “happy” hormones like dopamine and serotonin. These effects may then help promote relaxation and ease pain.

Studies have shown that acupuncture may benefit conditions like neck and back pain. It may also help improve pain caused by osteoarthritis and operations. 

Try These Strategies for Neck Pain Following a Car Accident

From resting to using cold and heat therapy and getting chiropractic care, all these can be effective ways to help combat neck pain following a car accident. So, if you or a loved one has recently been in a crash, consider trying these drug-free treatment options.

If you’re ready to enjoy the benefits of chiropractic and holistic care, the healers at Veeva are happy to help! Our healers are highly experienced Doctors of Chiropractic, licensed acupuncturists, and Naturopathic Doctors. We’ll work with you every step of the way to help you throughout your recovery and overall wellness journey.

Speak with us today to schedule your visit to one of our Oregon or Southern Washington clinics!