How to Heal a Back Injury After a Car Accident

If you have been in one or more car accidents, you know how traumatizing the experience can be. Even more traumatizing can be the injuries sustained during the accident. Injuries can occur in any type of accident- whether the accident was a minor fender-bender or a more serious crash. Here are some ways to help yourself heal after any type of motor vehicle accident.

Things You'll Need

• Rest
• Ice
• Doctor's Visit
• Epsom Salt
• Motrin / Ibuprofin

Instructions

1. If you injure your neck or back during a car accident, make sure to visit a physician as soon as possible. Visit your local emergency room or urgent care to get X-Rays if you feel severe pain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, if you lose consciousness at any time or if you suffer from any open wounds.

2. Remember to use ice for the first 72 hours (no heat- it can exascerbate the injury!), use anti-inflammatory medication such as motrin or ibuprofin (if your health allows it- always consult your physician before taking medication), and make sure to get plenty of rest. Try to soak in cool or even icy baths to decrease inflammation for the first 72 hours, then move on to soaking in warm water with epsom salts as needed.

3. Chiropractic care and massage are very useful immediately after an accident. If you can contact your chiropractor for an evaluation soon after your accident (preferably the same day), then get a theraputic massage, you might be able to prevent or at least decrease severe muscle spasms that are oftentimes the result of whiplash.

4. Make sure to get plenty of rest- do not lift too much weight or move too many heavy objects; however, it is a good idea to keep moving around and not just lay still in one spot for the first couple of days. Although just laying in bed sounds like a good idea- your muscles might like the relaxation a little too much and they might rebel when you try to move. If you do little things (walk around the house, sit and stand on occasion, or stretch), your muscles may stay loose enough to decrease pain of normal daily activities.

5. Stay hydrated after an accident. In any case of whiplash or back injury, it is important to keep your body hydrated. The pain, medication and injury itself can be extremely draining on the body, and the healing process can be quite dehydrating in addition to the toxins that are released by your body to fight any infection or injury. Drink plenty of water to help your body do its best work while healing.

6. Listen to your doctor. If they tell you to take time off work- do it. If they tell you to take medication- do it. Failure to follow your physician's instructions may result in further injury, and when you're talking about the back or neck- could persist for a longer time (or even a lifetime) of discomfort that could have been prevented by following the doctor's orders.

Tips & Warnings

• Always consult your physician before acting on any medical advice.

• This information is provided based on first-hand experience. I am not a medical professional and this is not intended to be used in lieu of your own physician's professional opinions.