Choices to Reduce Your Neck Pain

Treatment for any neck condition should involve two goals:

• Relieve pain.
• Reduce the risk of re-injury.

The treatment of neck pain can range from the reassurance that nothing is wrong to very delicate surgery. Treatment is always based on the individual and his or her symptoms. In general, treatment for neck pain falls into two broad categories: conservative treatment (non-surgical) and surgical treatment.

Conservative treatment for neck pain

Medications

Medications are commonly used to control pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, and sleep disturbance.

Some general tips about treatment with medication:

• Medication should be used wisely! Take all medications exactly as prescribed and report any side effects to your doctor.
• Some pain medicines are highly addictive!
• No pain medicine will control chronic pain if used over a long period.
• No medication will cure neck pain of degenerative origin.

Cervical Collar
A cervical collar is often used to provide support and limit motion while an injured neck is healing. It also helps keep the normal alignment. Cervical collars can be soft (made of foam) or hard (made of metal or plastic). Because these collars can restrict the movement of your head, you may need help with eating and other activities. The skin under the collar needs to be checked every day to prevent blisters or sores.

Physical Therapy

Your doctor may have a physical therapist work on an exercise program developed just for you. The physical therapist will teach you ways to prevent further injury to your neck.

How to treat Whiplash?
Whiplash is a condition caused by injury to the soft tissue structures of the cervical spine or neck region. Usually whiplash is a strain of the muscles or sprain of the ligaments that move and support the spine and head. Often whiplash occurs after a sudden, unexpected movement of extension of the neck, most commonly during a car crash.

Whiplash Symptoms
These signs and symptoms may occur immediately or minutes to hours after the initial injury. The sooner after the injury that symptoms develop, the greater the chance of serious damage.

1. Neck pain
2. Neck swelling
3. Tenderness along the back of your neck
4. Muscle spasms (in the side or back of your neck)
5. Difficulty moving your neck around
6. Headache
7. Pain shooting from your neck into either shoulder or arm

When to Seek Medical Care?
The best time to call your doctor is immediately after the injury. If you cannot determine whether an emergency department visit is needed for your symptoms, then contact your doctor and ask for advice. The risks associated with a possible neck injury are far too great to attempt to diagnose and treat yourself. You should see a doctor and have your “neck braced” to keep your head from moving during transport.

Depending on the severity of your car accident, emergency medical personnel may take you to an emergency department immediately. In this case, a cervical collar will be placed around your neck, and your body will be strapped to a long, firm board to prevent any movements until a doctor sees you.

Whiplash Treatment

Self-Care at Home:
Home care is intended to relieve your pain and minimize the amount of inflammation in the soft tissues of your neck.

• Apply ice to your neck for 35 minutes at a time, up to 4 times per day. Do not apply ice directly to your skin. Place a towel between the ice and your neck. Continue to use ice therapy until the pain stops. (After you see your doctor, follow his or her directions for ice therapy.)
• Take acetaminophen for pain relief or ibuprofen for anti-inflammatory action. Avoid ibuprofen if you have a past medical history of gastritis, duodenitis, peptic ulcer disease, reflux, or other stomach problems.

Medical Treatment
The doctor most likely will recommend a treatment plan including a mixture of the following:

• Immobilization of your neck with a soft cervical collar
• Neck massage
• Neck rest
• Bed rest
• Ice therapy
• Heat therapy
• Early range of motion exercises combined with heat therapy starting 72 hours after the injury to restore flexibility
• Oral pain relievers

Avoidance of excessive neck strain for the next week and then increased activity as tolerated in the following weeks.