Neck Pain After a Car Accident: Signs You Need Physiotherapy

The neck has one of the lowest tolerances for trauma during a car accident. Even slow-speed collisions can injure the bones, muscles, and nerves in your cervical spine. Neck pain after a car accident is one of the leading causes of chronic pain down the road. When your neck is abruptly jerked forward and backward, the soft tissues can tear or stretch. These seemingly small injuries can develop into serious problems if you don't receive proper treatment right away.

Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD): Not Just Another Silly Headache

Whiplash is described as your head being forcefully snapped backward and then forward in a whip-like motion. It's alarming and completely unexpected which can cause soft tissues to stretch or tear.

Grade I: You experience non-specific pain or stiffness.
Grade II: You have a limited range of motion with your head or have isolated painful spots.
Grade III: You experience weakness or numbness in your arms.
Grade IV: Bone fractures or dislocation are involved.

However, neck pain after a car accident rarely comes alone. Many patients suffer from the "invisible" symptoms listed below.

• Headaches
• Temporomandibular Joint (jaw) Pain
• Dizziness
• Sleep Problems
• Difficulty Concentrating

The "Hidden" Injury: Delayed Symptoms of Whiplash

Pain might not show up until days or even weeks after your accident. At the time of the crash, your adrenaline was probably pumping, so you didn't feel much pain. You think you are fine when you leave the scene of the accident only to wake up with a sore neck the next morning. Pain typically increases from 24-72 hours post-accident as tissues become swollen and stiff. It can take up to one week for all your symptoms to surface.

Just because you don't see anything on an X-ray does NOT mean you aren't injured. X-rays can't show tears in your muscles and ligaments. These soft tissue injuries are the leading cause of neck pain after a car accident.

Professional treatment from a physiotherapist is necessary to restore full movement.

Restoring Movement

It used to be that all injured necks were braced with hard plastic collars from the doctors. We now know through research that movement is therapeutic after an acute injury like neck pain after a car accident. Movement increases blood flow which promotes healing. It also helps prevent tissues from sticking to each other and developing faulty healing.

A trained physiotherapist knows how much movement is beneficial and at what time during your recovery. They will provide you with specific exercises to challenge your neck in a safe and controlled way. You will learn how to restore normal movement without the fear of re-injury that causes many patients to become stiff and weak.

Strengthening your Deep Neck Flexors

Deep neck flexors are a group of muscles deep within your neck. They help stabilize your cervical spine but often become weakened/injured after neck pain after a car accident. Patients commonly describe this as having a "heavy head" when looking forward for long periods of time.

When the deep neck flexors become weakened your body compensates by using larger muscles in your neck. These larger muscles become overstretched and tired which can cause headaches. Strengthening these deep muscles through professional treatment will alleviate that heavy head feeling.

Treating your concussion

Whiplash symptoms can occur with mild traumatic brain injury also known as a concussion. If you were involved in a car accident and experiencing any of these symptoms: headaches, dizziness, problems concentrating, or fatigue you may have a concussion.

A physio trained in concussion management can help treat your headaches and neck pain after a car accident while also evaluating you for a concussion.

When to See a Physiotherapist for Neck Pain after a Car Accident

Many people struggle with knowing whether they should see a professional about their neck pain after a car accident or not. It's always better to be safe than sorry and we'd rather you see us sooner rather than later. However, if you are experiencing the following serious symptoms, you should make your appointment today:

• Your pain is severe and does not improve with over the counter medications like Tylenol or Advil
• You cannot rotate your head as you normally would
• You feel weakness, tingling, or numbness down your arms
• Your headaches are becoming more frequent
• You experience dizziness or problems with balance

When to Visit The Emergency Room

If you experience any of the following symptoms you should head straight to the hospital.

• Severe headache with vomiting
• Loss of consciousness (even if it was for a few seconds)
• Weakness down your arms or legs
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing

The Paperwork You Don't Have To Stress About: MVA Claims

Dealing with paperwork is the LAST thing you want to worry about after being in a car accident. That's why we at Cambridge Physiotherapy take care of all of the MVA claim forms for you!

It's important to seek medical treatment for your neck pain after a car accident as soon as possible. Insurance companies want to see medical records within the first couple of days of your accident to process your claim. By getting yourself in to see a physiotherapist within 1-3 days your approval chances are sky-high!

We will communicate directly with the insurance company to:

• Fill out your OCF-18 treatment plans
• Send progress reports
• Deal with direct billing (you pay $0 out of pocket!)
• Navigate you through Minor Injury Guidelines (MIG)
• Advocate for more treatment should your injuries require it.

If your injury falls outside of MIG, we will create a comprehensive treatment plan to get you the care you need and deserve to make a full recovery.

So what are you waiting for? Start Your Recovery!

When not treated properly, these "simple" injuries can lead to:

• Neck Pain
• Stiffness & Reduced Mobility
• Degenerative Joint Disease (Arthritis)
• Depression & Anxiety

If you're experiencing neck pain following a car accident, don't let your injury get any worse. Contact Cambridge Physiotherapy today to begin your recovery!

FAQs on Neck Pain After a Car Accident

How long does whiplash take to heal?

Whiplash recovery time can vary depending on the severity of your injury. Most recoveries take between 2-4 weeks. More severe cases of whiplash can take 3-6 months to heal. Start your recovery today and prevent long-term consequences of whiplash by receiving physiotherapy early.

Can someone drive while recovering from neck pain after a car accident?

If you experience sharp pains when turning your head to check blind spots or you are unable to keep your head straight while driving, you should not be behind the wheel. Your therapist will be able to assess when it is safe for you to drive again.

What sleeping position is best for whiplash?

The best position to sleep in after whiplash is on your back or the side that is not injured. You want to use a pillow that supports your neck and allows it to rest in a neutral position. Avoid sleeping on your stomach as this forces your neck into rotation for long periods of time.

Is heat or ice better for a stiff neck after a crash?

The first 48-72 hours after your accident, apply ice to help reduce swelling and inflammation. After the acute phase has passed, you can switch to heat to help ease muscle tightness. Always check with your physiotherapist before starting any modalities at home.

What happens if you stop physiotherapy treatment before you're fully healed?

You risk re-injuring yourself or not fully recovering from your injury. There is a proper progression that your body needs to go through to heal. Cambridge Physiotherapy will ensure you are ready for each stage of recovery before moving on to more challenging exercises.