How to Treat Whiplash After a Car Accident

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by the sudden back-and-forth movement of the head, and it is most common after a car crash. If your neck is sore and stiff after an accident, the good news is that most people get better with simple steps. The order you take them in matters, and so does knowing when home care is not enough.

How to treat whiplash

For most people, treating whiplash comes down to a few things done consistently. Keep moving, ease the pain, and get the neck checked if it is not clearly improving. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) says whiplash usually gets better within 2 to 3 months, although some people have symptoms for longer.

• Keep up your everyday activities as much as you can. It may hurt a little, but the NHS says it speeds recovery.
• Do not rest your neck for long periods, and do not wear a neck brace or collar. The NHS says a collar does not help.
• Use hot or cold packs on your neck. Cleveland Clinic suggests them for the first seven to ten days.
• Take an over-the-counter painkiller such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen if it is safe for you.

The first few days after the crash

Symptoms do not always start at the scene. The NHS says it can take several hours for whiplash symptoms to appear, and Cleveland Clinic says some take at least 12 hours. Neck pain and stiffness, headaches, and pain or muscle spasms in the shoulders and arms are the usual signs.

It is natural to want to hold your neck still, but the NHS advises against resting your neck for long periods. Gentle, normal movement through the day is the goal, not exercise through sharp pain. If a movement makes your symptoms much worse, ease off and mention it when you are examined.

When to get your neck checked

The NHS advises seeing a doctor if your symptoms have not improved after a week, if over-the-counter painkillers are not working, or if you are worried about your pain. After a car crash there is a second reason to be seen early: Florida's 14-day PIP rule, explained below.

An examination usually starts with how your neck moves and how your nerves respond. Cleveland Clinic says doctors may order X-rays, a CT scan or an MRI to rule out other problems and look for complications. If something about your symptoms worries you, say so and ask what the next step should be.

Florida's 14-day PIP rule

Florida's personal injury protection law pays medical benefits only when initial services and care are received within 14 days after the accident. A chiropractic physician is one of the providers who can give that initial care. What your policy covers depends on your policy and your insurer, so ask your insurer about your own case.

What professional treatment looks like

A 2016 clinical practice guideline on neck pain and whiplash, written mainly by chiropractic researchers and published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, suggests care that combines hands-on treatment such as joint mobilization and soft tissue work with exercise and advice for whiplash in the first three months, rather than advice alone. It rates this a weak recommendation based on moderate-quality evidence. For whiplash that lasts longer than three months, the same guideline suggests supervised exercise with advice, or advice alone.

• Manual therapy: hands-on care such as gentle mobilization of the neck and soft tissue work on tight muscles.
• Exercise: gentle range-of-motion work at first, then strengthening as the neck improves.
• Advice: how to stay active, sleep and work without making the neck worse.
• Medication: a doctor may prescribe a stronger painkiller if over-the-counter ones are not enough.

At Align the Spine in Deerfield Beach, a car-accident evaluation looks at how your neck and upper back move and where the pain sits. Depending on what it finds, care can include chiropractic adjustments, myofascial release and trigger point work. Dr. Abe Nasser, D.C., sees patients in English and Spanish.

How long treatment usually takes

Treatment follows the injury rather than a fixed schedule. Cleveland Clinic says most people, especially those with a minor injury, recover within days or a few weeks, while more severe injuries can take several weeks or even months. If your symptoms last, the NHS says a GP may refer you to a physiotherapist, a pain specialist or for psychological support, so lingering pain is a reason to be seen again, not something to wait out.

What to avoid while you heal

• Wearing a neck collar or brace for support.
• Long periods of resting your neck in one position.
• Pushing through sharp pain or new numbness to finish an exercise.
• Waiting for the pain to settle before getting checked if you also have any of the warning signs above.

Most whiplash improves with time, movement and the right care. If your neck still hurts days after a crash, or you are not sure what you are dealing with, getting it examined is the simplest next step. For how long recovery usually takes, see our guide on how long whiplash lasts.