If left untreated, whiplash can lead to lifelong pain. Here’s everything you need to know about how to recover from whiplash syndrome.

Are you involved with any sports? Do you play football or hockey? That’s great—there’s nothing better than staying fit while having fun!

There’s one thing to remember, though. You always want to wear the proper gear. The last thing that you’d want is to hurt yourself!

This is especially true for contact sports as injuries are more common. For instance, a forceful impact can easily lead to whiplash syndrome.

Did you experience something like that recently? Want to know how you can alleviate the symptoms? If so, you’ll want to keep reading—we’ll be going over all that you need to know below!

What is Whiplash Syndrome?

Whiplash is a type of neck injury that results from forceful back-and-forth movement of the head. It’s often seen in those who have been in a rear-end car collision. However, it can also result from sports.

Generally speaking, symptoms will develop within 24 hours. For instance, you might experience neck pain, headache, blurred vision, or dizziness.

In some cases, it can also lead to ringing in the areas, chronic pain, and problems with concentration.

How to Treat Whiplash

Treatment for whiplash is straightforward. For the first couple of days, your whiplash doctor might give you a foam collar to wear; its purpose is to help keep your neck stable.

As far as medications go, painkillers are the go-to drug for alleviating pain. Depending on how severe your injury is, your doctor might also prescribe a muscle relaxant.

In addition to that, physical therapy also help. For instance, there are exercises that you can do to strengthen your neck muscles.

It’s important not to overdo it, though—that can worsen the injury!

Alternative Remedies

There are a few alternative treatment options that can help with the pain. For instance, massages are great for relieving neck tension.

Electronic nerve stimulation (a form of therapy that uses low-voltage electric currents) can also be used to ease the pain. Acupuncture can help as well, though its exact benefits have not yet been confirmed by any studies. 

Complications of Whiplash

Some people will experience chronic pain for years after the incident. Generally speaking, this is due to damage to the joints, ligaments, or disks. However, it’s not uncommon for the cause to be unexplained in some cases.

With that said, long-term complications are rare. Nine times out of ten, an individual with whiplash syndrome will recover within a few weeks.

In fact, some might even get better within a few days!

Recovering from the Injury

As you can see, there are several ways to treat whiplash syndrome. At the end of the day, the exact treatment depends on the severity of the injury. When in doubt, visit your doctor—they’ll be able to help with your situation!

Did you find the information in this post helpful? If so, why not share it with your friends?