Whiplash is one of the most common injuries car accident victims suffer after a crash, especially in a rear-end collision. It’s also a typical sports injury. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when your head suddenly and forcefully jerks forward and backward. In many cases, it can cause excruciating pain and discomfort in the neck.

If you’ve sustained whiplash in an accident caused by a negligent party, you can get compensation. Your Maryland car accident lawyer will help you get a fair settlement. While getting compensation will do a lot in providing you relief, you still need to treat your whiplash properly. Treating your accident injuries helps your compensation process because it shows that you’re serious about getting better.

There are many treatment options for whiplash. Depending on the severity of your whiplash, you can explore home remedies in addition to your doctor‘s recommendations. This article discusses all you need to know about treating whiplash.

What To Do Immediately After a Whiplash

The first thing to do after whiplash is to visit a doctor as soon as possible. Many people wrongly think that whiplash is a minor injury that will always heal on its own. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Untreated whiplash can eventually get worse and cause you severe, long-term health complications.

Even when you feel little or no pain, you must still visit a doctor for the following reasons:

  • Most accident victims fall into shock soon after an accident happens. Due to the shock and high adrenaline levels, they may feel no pain until they’re calmer. So, you may have whiplash and only get to know much later. As such, you should always visit the hospital immediately after a crash to avoid delayed health assessment and treatment.
  • Your whiplash can worsen and cause severe complications without prompt medical treatment.

Your doctor can carry out tests by X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography scan to diagnose your whiplash.

Can I Treat Whiplash All By Myself? 

Sometimes, this injury can heal on its own after some time, especially in a mild case. However, some untreated injuries cause long-term complications in others. Therefore, to be on the safe side, it’s always best to seek professional help.

Depending on your doctor’s advice, you can supplement medical treatment with the following self-care procedures:

  • Apply ice. Using ice on your neck immediately after the injury can help reduce the pain and swelling.
  • Use moist heat. However, you must only do this after you’ve applied ice for a minimum of 2 days.
  • Rest. Doing strenuous work when treating whiplash will strain your neck more.

What Will My Doctor Recommend? 

There are a lot of treatment options your doctor may prescribe for you. It mainly depends on the severity of your whiplash, your medical history, and how excruciating your pain is. Your doctors will usually recommend any of the following for you:

  • Painkillers and Injection

There are several over-the-counter medications you can take for your pain. The most common ones are ibuprofen and acetaminophen. If your pain is severe, your doctor can place you on antidepressant drugs. You may also need a lidocaine injection to numb your pain.

  • Physical Therapy 

Your doctor can recommend that you visit an experienced physical therapist to improve your recovery time. Physical therapy can make you feel more relaxed and help lessen your dependence on drugs. In addition, it will strengthen your muscles, improve your range of motion and ensure that you don’t sustain more injuries.

  • Exercises 

Some stretching and rotating exercises can help you feel better in time. They will help to restore your range of motion too. However, don’t go exercising without your doctor’s approval.

  • Neck Braces or Foam Collars

Your doctor may recommend that you use neck braces to limit neck movement and help you sleep. However, you may only wear braces for a short time; otherwise, they can hinder your full recovery.

Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys for Instant Legal Assistance

Recovering from accident injuries like whiplash can be challenging, and financing your medical treatment can be draining. So, it’s okay to seek some relief from your pains through compensation from the at-fault party. That’s why our personal injury attorneys are always here for you.

At Pinder Plotkin LLC, we hate to see you in pain due to someone’s negligence. So, our lawyers will do everything possible to make them pay. You wouldn’t even need to pay for the initial consultation or any upfront fees. We’ve got your back just like that! So, give us a call today.

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