What Will Help Relieve the Symptoms of Whiplash?
It is always advisable to seek advice from your GP or the Accident & Emergency department of the nearest hospital. However, there are a few things you can do to help relieve or reduce your symptoms. • Ice packs placed on the neck within the first 24 hours will help reduce the inflammation. The best way to achieve this is to lay down with the ice pack placed under the back of the neck for 20 minutes at a time. Bags of frozen peas make ideal ice packs as they mold around the area but no matter what is used the ice pack should always be wrapped in a cloth or towel so that the ice doesn’t come into direct contact with the skin. • Over the counter pain killers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen etc should help to ease the pain and discomfort and reduce inflammation but it is advisable to consult a doctor first. • Keep the neck mobile with gentle exercise. Studies have shown that whiplash patients who rested for a few weeks or wore a soft collar didn’t recover as quickly as those who continued a