Whiplash Treatment at Home: 5 Things You Can Do Now to Relieve Pain

Young man suffering from neck pain. Headache pain.

Whiplash injuries are the most common injury to arise out of rear-ending collisions. This may seem like a minor injury, but it can be severe. Plus, it is costing the country a lot of money.

Whiplash costs the United States more than US$8.5 billion a year.

Read on to learn all about whiplash treatment at home to help you start feeling better.

Common Whiplash Symptoms

Common whiplash symptoms include the following:

Fatigue
Dizziness
Shoulder and neck pain
Neck stiffness
Trouble sleeping
Blurry vision
Problems with concentration
Irritability

Each case of whiplash is unique. You may have all the symptoms or only one. Even if you only have a stiff neck and pain, it can be severe.

Not everyone gets all of the above symptoms, other than the pain and stiffness, which, depending on the extent of the injury, can be quite severe.

Yet, there are various at-home remedies you can try to relieve your symptoms.

Ginger

If you are experiencing nausea due to whiplash, ginger can help. Ginger has been used for thousands of years to stop vomiting and nausea.

One or two cups of hot ginger tea a day can help curb those symptoms. You can also take ginger supplements or chew ginger candy but these may take longer to work.

Also, ginger is an excellent aid for inflammation. Reducing inflammation in your neck will also help reduce pain.

You can also have a ginger bath. Simply grate half a cup of ginger into the bath. If you don’t have fresh ginger, a teaspoon of ground ginger will also work.

The warm water and ginger will work together to ease muscle pain and relax your stiff muscles.

Gentle Exercises

Car accident injuries are not to be taken lightly. Always have yourself checked over by a doctor if you suspect you have whiplash or other injuries.

Once you have been given the all-clear, you can learn how to help whiplash with some gentle exercises.

Stretching can restore your neck’s range of motion. Here are some of the exercises you can try:

Rotate your neck in both directions
Tilt your head side to side
Bend your neck down toward your chest
Roll your shoulders

Never force your neck past the point of slight discomfort. It’s normal to have a reduced range of motion. Take these exercises slowly and gently. Work up to doing ten of each.

Ice/Heat Therapy

One of the surest methods for how to get rid of whiplash is through hot and cold therapy.

Both ice and heat are helpful for whiplash as long as they are used properly.

For the first 24 hours, stick to ice. Icing your neck and shoulders will limit inflammation and swelling. At this point, you should start to feel some relief.

Then after 48 hours, move to heat therapy. Heat on sore muscles works to bring fresh, oxygen-rich, healing blood to the area. It also soothes and eases tight, tense muscles.

After 48 hours you can alternate hot and cold every 30 minutes. Don’t forget to wrap ice in a cloth before putting it on your skin. You want to avoid a burn.

OTC Muscle Relaxants

You can also purchase over-the-counter muscle relaxants to help with whiplash. These drugs reduce pain and swelling.

As a bonus, these meds can make you sleepy. If you are having trouble sleeping because of pain, this can really help.

Over-the-Counter Pain Medications

If you don’t have or want to purchase muscle relaxants, OTC pain relievers such as Tylenol and Advil can also help with mild to moderate whiplash pain.

Again, these meds reduce swelling and pain.

Foam Collars

Soft collars can keep your neck steady so that you limit movement (and pain). These can also help you get a good night’s sleep.

Recommendations for using a collar vary. Check with your healthcare provider on how to properly wear the collar and for how long.

Essential Oils

There are plenty of essential oils on the market that you can use to relax muscles, speed up healing, and reduce inflammation.

This is a good option if you are looking for natural remedies. Be sure to look for essential oils that are pure and high-grade to get the biggest benefit.

Some of the most recommended essential oils for whiplash include the following oils:

Lavender. It helps to relax your mind and body.
Peppermint. It can be used to combat nausea as well as to numb pain when applied topically.
Rosemary. Rosemary oil is purported to have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and analgesic properties. This is exactly what you need for whiplash.

Remember that essential oils are potent and concentrated. Always test a small area before you apply it to your neck.

CBD Oil or Cream

You have probably heard people raving about CBD oil to help with everything from migraines to chronic pain and anxiety and everything in between.

CBD is not a placebo. It really does help. The National Institutes of Health states that cannabinoids have analgesic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory compounds that improve circulation and cause cell regeneration.

You can get CBD oils and creams online or by visiting a local supplier. Remember, CBD oils only have trace amounts of THC (if any) so you will not get high and these products are legal.

Follow the directions on the label and apply it up to three times a day on the neck and shoulders.