Whiplash- tips for speedy recovery

[ClassicG&T]

I parted company with the pony yesterday whilst jumping and had the most amazing fall. Pony was going flat out to jump, dodged to side causing me to lose balance, but before i could regain balance, he took off flat out and dodge the other way causing me to fall at speed. i flew, landed neck first, then back, then i rolled across the floor a few times due to the speed.

Anyway, i now have whiplash . But i hate anything slowing me up and preventing me riding/doing things so i need to recover ASAP.

Any tips?

 

[quirky]

I would see a physio.
I fell off 4 years ago and didn't realise I had whiplash until eventually I couldn't lift my head off the pillow, I had to roll out of bed :eek :

I was given various exercises to do and I still do them when it is playing up.

The physio said it is very rare to fully recover from whiplash

 

[Burnttoast]

What Quirky said is true

I second a *good* physio, also judicious use of anti-inflammatories/painkillers, and perhaps think about seeing a postural person - pilates, similar - to make sure that the position of your head/neck/shoulders is good, as this can have a big impact on recovery and non-reoccurrence. If you spend much time at a desk/computer, the odds are you will hold your neck hyper-extended.

Injuries like this can lead to referred pain, so if you get unexplained pain in your arms/hands in the future it may well be from the original injury, but chiro/osteo/physio can help here too.

 

[lialls]

I had 2 years of Physio when i had whiplash and it didnt help, i just got worse. I found that Bowen therapy straighten me out, within a year i was back to normal having been signed off work and not able to drive. Its what works best for you though.

Also try - hot baths, wear a scarf when its cold to keep your neck warm, use deep heat or curprofen gel on the effected area if it becomes sore, take painkillers if you are in pain and rest as much as possible. dont over do your self and stop if you feel pain. I sometimes find that having a massage helps. Get a good nights sleep, dont sleep in a cold room - you will defo know about it in the morning.

Good luck, hope you make a full recovery

 

[juliette]

A visit to a recommended physio asap - the quicker they see you the better the results in my experience.

Keep warm and try to keep muscles relaxed, easier said than done I know but if you are not careful you will exacerbate the problem.

If your muscles are stiff Deep Heat or similar rubbed in will help.

Take some time off riding.

Good luck!!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Another vote for good physio.
I found that a private physio is trained to treat the whole body, so can help with any misalignment, whereas NHS physio is only allowed to treat the part of the body that the patient has been referred for.

Some good ideas for home treatment above.

 

[dollyanna]

You are generally better off putting ice on it than heat - ice will take down inflammation, keep the healing process going and is a great painkiller. Only put it on for 10mins at a time though, no longer, and if you use frozen pease make sure they are wrapped up! I find for necks that freezing a damp hand towel is quite good as you can apply it directly, wrap it comfortably around the neck and it only stays effectively cold for about 10mins anyway. Keep icing it as often as you can for at least a week after the pain has gone.

Definitely see someone sooner rather than later if you are going to do so - the whiplash injuries that hang around forever tend to be the ones that were not treated quickly. The pain will go but the tension pattern will stay. I would say see an osteopath, preferably one who doesn't just click, but then I am slightly biased being one myself! A good private physio, good (gentle) chiro or good (gentle) osteopath is ideal - who they are is more important than what they are. See if you can get a recommendation from someone locally, and if you don't feel comfortable with what they do, don't put up with it. If you want an osteo I am happy to help find one if that helps, just PM.

 

[ClassicG&T]

Thanks fpr the advice. Ive got deep heat, pain killers and thick scarves. I also have hot baths everyday. I think i might also consider physio, i know someone who raves about theirs so i might as for their number.

 

[Auslander]

I've got whiplash at the moment - spun my car on the motorway the day before yesterday. I coudn't move my head yesterday, so went to the docs straight away. They prescribed me a short course of Diazepam, with ongong ibruprofen, and I have a physio appointment today. I'm really impressed with how decisively they acted. Doc said it was best to throw as much treatment as possible at it as soon as posssible.

 

[Tinypony]

You need to see the doc. I'm also recovering from whiplash, from what seemed like a minor accident on 29th November. Daily hot baths are not recommended. You need some drugs so that you don't feel the pain so much and keep your neck moving. That was one of the first things the A+E doctor said to me, that he needed to get me to a point where I wasn't afraid to move my head.
I think the way to speed your recovery is to get some medical help.