Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

According to the statistics, there are about 10,000 new cases of whiplash in America every month. The majority of these injuries are caused by car accidents, but whiplash can be caused by any action in which soft tissues in your cervical spine are overstressed due to violent movement. We tend to see the majority of our whiplash patients after a car accident or athletic injury, but no matter what caused your injury, treatment is pretty straight forward.

Minor to mild cases of whiplash can usually be successfully treated with conservative care options that you can perform at home. Below, we take a closer look at some home remedies for treating whiplash.

Treating Whiplash At Home

You may be able to treat whiplash on your own, but that doesn’t mean you should skip the doctor’s appointment altogether, especially if you were involved in an auto accident. Aside from needing a professional diagnosis if you are considering seeking injury compensation, a medical diagnosis by a spine specialist will be able to rule out certain problems and catch issues you may not know about. It’s hard to treat your neck pain if you don’t know exactly what you’re dealing with, which is why we recommend scheduling an evaluation even if you plan to treat the condition on your own.

Here’s what a doctor may suggest you do from the comfort of your home to help address your whiplash:

1. Ice – Cold therapy is very helpful in the first 24-48 hours after the injury, as it helps to fight off the development of inflammation. Ice your neck for 15 minutes every hour or two to help combat inflammation that can slow down the healing process.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Medications – Aside from ice, certain over-the-counter medications can help to prevent against inflammation. Stick to the regulations listed on the side of the bottle, and don’t mix pills. If over-the-counter options aren’t doing the trick, your doctor may be able to set you up with a prescription for something with more pain-relieving properties.
3. Rest – Give your neck some time off from activities, because the soft tissues in the area need time to heal. If you work physical labor or play sports, consider taking a day or two off to let the muscles heal. Trying to push through the pain can make the problem worse.
4. Physical Therapy – After a few days of rest, the best thing you can do for your neck is to begin some physical therapy exercises. Not only will this help to facilitate healthy blood flow to the injured structures, but it will also help to improve your range of motion and strengthen injured tissues. Your doctor can set you up with some easy-to-perform exercises, or you can perform a Google search for “whiplash therapy exercises.”

Twin Cities Whiplash Doctor

If symptoms persist for more than a week, or if pain worsens, you may need more hands-on care. Dr. Sinicropi has helped a number of patients dealing with a whiplash problems, from mild symptoms to severe complications. He can help get you set up on the road to recovery. Learn how he’ll do this by contacting his office today.

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