When you are in a car accident, your body will react to an impactful incident in a slightly different way than others riding in the same car. Whiplash is a common occurrence after a car accident, but not everyone’s body is the same. Everyone is going to have different degrees of pain and therefore, will recover at different rates.
After an accident, you will want to find top physicians specializing in treating auto injuries in order to head down the road to recovery. Not all doctors will treat auto accident patients due to the lengthy legal issues that often accompany such an injury.
Here are 4 whiplash injury rehabilitation tips to help you recover faster.
- Ice, Then Heat
For the first two days after a whiplash accident, use ice to help combat the swelling and pain. Wrap ice in a thin towel to avoid damage to the skin. Use this ice wrap on your neck for 15 minutes at a time every 3 to 5 hours.
After the first two days of icing, switch to warm, moist heat. It is important to wait until the swelling has gone down before applying this type of relief. Use warm washcloths or take a warm shower with the water directed to the neck area.
- See a Physical Therapist
Whether you end up in the emergency room or at your regular doctor, you will no doubt be given a prescription to visit with a physical therapist. This is a person trained to help a body recover from injury. They know how to get your body back to where it was before the accident using different massage techniques, exercises and range of motion manoeuvres.
One of the things a physical therapist will do is assign a series of exercises for you to do at home between visits. This is extremely important because it will help you recover faster and keep you from getting worse by stiffening up your muscles. For better healthcare facilities, you visit Icon Medical Centers in Hollywood here and get on your feet quickly.
- Medications
If your doctor recommends pain medications or muscle relaxers, take them as prescribed. Doctors will only prescribe such medication when your pain is not manageable with over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. A doctor will monitor your pain level and should not prescribe heavy narcotics for this type of injury. Take the medication only as directed and along with physical therapy, you should be feeling better within a week or two.
- Neck Brace
Do not purchase one of these types of devices unless your doctor recommends it. If your doctor or physical therapist recommends a neck brace, they will prescribe a time limit on this type of medical device. This is because using a collar or neck brace for an extended period of time will actually make your symptoms worse.
With proper care, rest and sometimes medications, you will recover from whiplash better and faster than if you leave the injury alone. It is important to follow your physician’s instructions to the letter, so you are on your way to recovery in a minimal amount of time.
Did you like this post? Why not Pin it?
Featured article
No Comments