Returning to Daily Life with Whiplash

If you're seeking treatment for whiplash, take heart; many cases clear up quickly. Others might take time, but most of those will clear up as well. In the meantime, though, dealing with the soreness and stiffness can be annoying at best. In addition to seeking help from chiropractors and other professionals, you can follow some self-care guidelines to boost your recovery.

Start Slow

It's okay to rest for a short time after the whiplash occurs; you're likely not going to feel like moving a lot anyway. You should start trying to move your neck—gently—soon after the accident and after you've gotten an all-clear from a doctor that, other than whiplash, your neck is fine. But take things easy. No heavy lifting, no attempts at vigorous movement, and so on. If you normally go jogging every day, for example, reduce that to maybe a little walking at first, building up gradually as your neck begins to feel better. If your doctor or chiropractor gives you exercises to do at home, do those religiously.

Stay Free

Try not to use a foam collar if you can help it. Sometimes the collars can be helpful for protecting your neck when you sleep, but always clear the use of a collar with your doctor first. The risk with collars is that you'll wear one too much, making it harder for your neck to recover. If you keep your neck still, the muscles can stiffen and possibly reduce in strength. It's okay to wear a collar if your doctor thinks it would be a good idea at first, though, especially for only a short time each day. But do try to stop collar use as soon as you safely can.

Stop Slouching

Have your chairs, computer setup, posture, and anything else that could be considered an ergonomic concern adjusted properly. If you slouch or do things like tend to sit too close to a computer screen, you can begin to have neck and back pain even when you're completely healthy. If you have whiplash, the pain will only be exacerbated by your poor posture, and any gains you make through treatment could be countered by another day at work. If you work in an office, there should be an ergonomic representative you can talk to through your human resources or health and safety department; if you work at home, talk to your chiropractor about proper setups and posture.

Direct other questions about your injury to your doctor or a chiropractor, such as one at TLC Chiropractic. Good, comprehensive treatment now can save you a lot of trouble later.