According to the Fairfax County, VA, government website, the county’s police department responds to an average of 6,200+ automobile accidents yearly.
If you recently got involved in one yourself, you may now be dealing with a neck injury.
Crash injuries can occur in any part of the body, but the neck is among the most common sites affected. Unlike the body secured by a seatbelt, nothing much protects the neck during a collision. A neck injury after a car accident is likely to develop because the head jerks side to side or back and forth in a sudden, quick motion as a result of the impact.
The good news is that there are several ways to manage and heal neck injury symptoms following a crash incident. Join our Fairfax law firm, Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, PLLC, as we share recovery tips and insights.
Medications
Whiplash injuries are among the most common types of neck injuries resulting from car crashes. According to NewYork-Presbyterian, as many as an estimated two million people in the U.S. suffer from this injury each year.
Whiplash injuries primarily cause neck pain and limit the neck’s range of motion. However, they can also lead to symptoms affecting the head, shoulder, and back. They can also become chronic or long-term.
For those reasons, it’s imperative to seek professional medical help as soon as possible following a car collision, even more so if the crash involves a truck. Your doctor can determine if you have broken bones or more severe internal injuries or rule them out. Hopefully, you don’t have any of these and will be able to manage the pain with medications alone.
Pain Medications
Pain medications can range from over-the-counter (OTC) options to more potent prescription drugs. What your doctor recommends or prescribes depends on the neck injury’s severity and the pain you experience. If your healthcare provider decides you need prescription medications, please follow their usage directions carefully to avoid adverse side effects.
Muscle Relaxants
Sprained neck muscles can develop uncontrollable spasms that may cause intense pain and prevent proper healing. If you experience these, your doctor will likely give you muscle relaxants that minimize the severity or frequency of the spasms, giving the injured muscles a chance to recover.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
The impact of car crashes can twist, pull, or tear soft tissues in the neck, causing them to become irritated, injured, and inflamed. Inflamed tissues can result in other highly unpleasant sensations if they press on nerves and prevent signals to and from your brain. In these situations, anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the swelling to control the pain and other symptoms.
Take a Break for a Few Days
Resting for a few days immediately following a car crash can help the neck and body recover from mild injuries. During the first two to three days, avoid strenuous activity, which can force the neck muscles to move and flex, potentially worsening the pain and injury. You should see an improvement after a few days of taking a break.
Cold Therapy
Another way to help your neck recover is to use cold therapy soon after the crash. Applying an ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every hour on the first day and then three times a day after that can help reduce inflammation and pain.
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy after cold therapy may further help improve pain symptoms. You can switch to this two to three days following cold treatment once the swelling has subsided considerably.
You can apply a hot compress on your neck for 10 to 15 minutes, up to three times daily. Heat can help dilate or open up the blood vessels, boosting circulation and promoting the recovery and healing of injured muscles.
Chiropractic Treatment
Pain medications can help reduce pain, but they only treat the symptoms, not the underlying cause. Moreover, as Verywell Health points out, their prolonged use can lead to harmful side effects, and they can have dangerous addictive properties.
Consider neck chiropractic treatments if you want a more holistic approach that doesn’t rely on medications. They’re also non-invasive and non-surgical. Despite that, they can address the underlying cause of your neck injury, supporting actual healing, not just pain reduction.
Chiropractors, also called Doctors of Chiropractic, can help treat your neck injury through:
- Postural analysis
- Gentle joint realignment through joint or spinal manipulation
- Stretching exercises and routines that promote neck health recovery
- Soft tissue therapy
- Electronic stimulation for pain relief
Your chiropractor can use the same methods to treat other injuries or conditions arising from your car crash, such as muscle stiffness and back pain.
Neck Injury After a Car Accident: You Need More Than Medical Help
While you have many treatment options for a neck injury after a car crash, the fact remains that they will cost you money. For this reason, you must learn about and protect your legal rights following a car crash in Fairfax, VA.
If you are the victim, consider filing a car accident lawsuit with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Whether for herniated neck disc or whiplash compensation claims, a personal injury attorney can help raise your chances of recovering monetary damages by proving the other driver’s fault and negligence. To do this, they will:
- Gather and review evidence
- Speak with people who may have witnessed the crash
- Consult with medical and health experts regarding your injuries
Your lawyer will build a solid case against the negligent party and aid you in maximizing your injury settlement or compensation. So, with their assistance, you can focus on healing your injuries and worry less about where to get the money for your treatment.
Try These Strategies for Neck Injuries Following a Car Crash
From resting to cold and heat therapy and opting for chiropractic care, all these can help you heal from a neck injury after a car accident.
To give yourself a chance to focus on your healing, allow our Fairfax law firm, Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, PLLC, to help with your car accident claim or lawsuit. We are highly experienced lawyers who have diligently served Northern Virginia for over three decades. We’ll work with you every step of the way to help you throughout your health, financial, and legal recovery.
Speak with us today to request your free initial consultation.
