Stiff Neck After an Accident? You Need to See a Chiropractor

A stiff neck is usually nothing to be alarmed over. It can happen from a bad night of sleep or even creep in after a stressful workday. But, neck pain that appears as a result of a car accident is a different story. Impact Medical Group of St. Petersburg shares when it’s necessary to see a chiropractor for this injury. 

Before you schedule an appointment, you may want to try several at-home remedies that may help relieve neck pain. You can try using a cold pack to reduce swelling in the inflamed area. When icing, a good estimate of time is to ice 40 minutes on, 20 minutes off and then repeat. Check that your pillow is firm enough to support your neck. Test out light neck stretches by tensing your neck muscles, looking up and down, and then side to side. This exercise may help loosen stiff muscles but be careful not to overextend yourself or you may cause more harm than good.

While these techniques may temporarily relieve pain, it’s critical to know when to see a chiropractor for a sustained neck injury. If you are experiencing long-standing neck pain, cannot look left or right without severe pain, or rely on pain medication to treat the pain, it is time to schedule an appointment. Seek assistance immediately if you have any numbness or tingling that began shortly after an accident.

A chiropractor can create a personalized treatment plan that will restore motion to stiff joints. By conducting an extensive examination, our team will explore symptoms, history of neck pain, and types of movement that exacerbate the injury. A consultation may also include a physical exam or X-rays to determine pain points. Afterward, a detailed treatment plan may include adjustments, neck exercises, and/or physiotherapy that will restore you to premium health.

If your neck pain is officially a pain in the neck, call Impact Medical Group of St. Petersburg at (727) 722-8103 or send a message to speak with our team. We strive to improve the overall health, happiness, and well-being of our community.