Whiplash.... what can I do

[jofeb04]

Hiya,

I've got whiplash from a car accident last week. The pain has been getting worse and even though I am taken co-codamol and ibuprofen it doesn't seem to be shifting any pain at all.

The doctor doesn't want to give me anything stronger as I have had side effects from 30/500 co-codamol before.

So, I can hardly move because of the pain I am in, I can't drive, looking after the children is really difficult, sitting at the computer is hard (hence on my mobile).

I have used a warm lavander wheat bag which seems to sooth my neck and back, but, what else can I do?

Thanks

(Getting concerned as the pain is not getting any better, and the doctor has said that whiplash can last a while).

jofeb04 - Whiplash can last and can feel worse before it gets better. I live with chronic neck & shoulder pain so I sympathise completely. Keep taking the pain killers regularly. What side-effects did you have on the stronger ones - sleepiness, dizziness, etc?? They may be worth taking at night to give you the extra benefits - you could take the weaker ones morning and lunchtime, & then the stronger ones at eg 6pm and before bed - just make sure you don't take extra paracetamol as they contain this in them. You should only take a max of 8 co-codamol (any strength) in 24 hours. Take the ibrupofen with meals!

Heat will also help, but you may also want to try ice on it as it will help to reduce inflammation. You can aslo try Bio-Freeze gel (available from chemists) - only use a small amount as it does freeze well!! I love it! Try sleeping on one pillow to allow your neck proper alignment - make sure the pillow is tucked well into your neck for support (or use a rolled up towel in the crook of your neck).

The hardest and probably most inportant part is to try to mobilise it as much as you can. The stiffer you hold yourself the stiffer it will get. Get into a hottish bath, try to relax and then gently try to move your neck - side to side, up and down, left to right etc. But go gently and dont overdo it!!! Regular small movements will be of benefit. Correct your overall posture too.

Also - stay off the computer!! It's so very bad for this injury!! You may also find texting on mobile irritates it too - anything where you need to look down and hold your arms up slightly!!!

Physio referral may be of benefit as they can use therapy to reduce the swelling/inflammation and give you exercises to do!

Best thing thouogh is a big hug from your kids - gently of course!!

Thanks for your response Daisy.

Finding it really hard to move at present (the pain shoots down my shoulders and back) but I fully understand the importnce.

Going to ask for some stronger painkillers (felt dizzy and sick as you mentioned!), to take at night so at least I would be sleeping all the way through.

Hi there- I'm 28wks preg and had car accident on 27th Dec (luckily baby is fine) but I can really sympathise with the whiplash. My neck was very painful for a few weeks and I've been left with horrible upper back and rib pain. Like you I find sitting a problem. Having a bath really does help! I was referred to a physio and have just started - she has given me a set of exercises to do and although it makes me very sore I'm hopeful that it'll help. she's advised me to try and spend time sitting with good posture even though this is uncomfortable to build my sitting tolerance. It sounds like you might benefit from physio- speak to your gp about it
good luck

Rest (lying down), support head with hands when moving around, wearing a scarf indoors and Time.

How are you feeling now jofeb04?? Did you get your prescription? What about a referral to see a physio - mind you, by the time you get an appointment hopefully you'll be back to normal.

Sophietom - 28 weeks preg - you should be on our thread - due May 2009!!! I'm 30 weeks today and currently surviving my pains on co-codamol. Normally I'm on a real cocktail of medications but they are not allowed during preg! At least I feel awake rather than dozy!!

whiplash.......huge sympathies. I have suffered three whiplash injuries now from three car accidents, and I can vouch for the pain. each time has tken me a good while to get over.

pain relief.........ibruprofen I found did nothing, so I was prescribed diclofenac (volterol). it is an anti-inflammitary but a better one (and stronger) than ibruprofen. you should ask your doctor for it, and while you are so tense with the pain, you will not heal as it creates a viscious(sp?) circle.
I was also given tramadol (a very strong pain killer), but it can make you a bit spacy so if you are in charge of small children it might not help.

also ask for a referral for physio. was the accident your fault?? if not, then you can push your insurence company to get the other party to pay for private physio. I have had that arranged for me with each of mine (other car each time at fault).

if not, then you can still insist thru your docs (he should refer you anyway TBH), or bowen therapy is vry good (I have had that done too, and I have to say, it did more for me that any of the physio I had!).

heat does help. I use hot water bottles on my neck when it plays up.

also, be careul with your posture (no hunching), keep shoulders down (I tend to lift mine into my neck when in pain.....bad thing apparently), and lifting is not recommended.

My recommendation tho is to go back to docs and get more help whiplash if not treated properly can take a LONG time to recover from.

tramadol will make you woozy too, just like the stronger co-codamol. (at times I am on both...!) MAybe your GP could also give you robaxan (??sp) or even diazepam (both muscle relaxants)

If you get voltarol MAKE SURE you take them with food. I ended up with horrendous mouth and throat ulcers on these.

Thanks for all the advice, lots of things to try!

I've been given co-codamol 30/500 (or the other way around!), which make me spaced out and feel drunk, but, it also helps me sleep so that is one thing.

It was someone elses fault, so I may try the insurance company to see if they can pay for physio treatment.

Still in agony with it (I also hold shoulders up if in pain, which I have also been told it is a bad thing!).

Apologies for not replying, I haven't been on the computer for a while as sitting really hurts (head too heavy kind of feeling).

jofeb, I treat a lot of whiplash patients (physio), and the advice you have received so far is spot on. Your symptoms may well still worsen up to 2 weeks after the accident, but early movement really is a big differentiating factor with regards to outcome. The idea is not to 'exercise' into or through the pain, but rather to move little and often in your painfree range, but as daisy suggested, try everything you can to increase your painfree range - eg hotwater bottle, medication. If you could possibly face it, getting into a warm swimming pool somewhere would ease your movement, and you could just walk up and down, swinging arms as vigorously as you can.

It is very very tempting to hold your entire upper body rigid, and be fearful of any and every movement. It may well be useful to go and see a physio to see what is safe to do, but you would really help yourself along greatly by practising good posture (tuck your chin in a bit as if holding a ripe peach gently in place on front of your neck) and attempting to move as normally as you can - that is rotating your head to look at something, not your whole body.

Further pain management could include a home TENS machine (can probably borrow a labour one from someone), very very gentle massage (professional only at this stage), and general exercise eg if you can only manage to go for a little walk and some shoulder rolls, do that. Do try not to aggravate it by lifting etc.

Hope you feel better soon, but don't expect too much of yourself too soon.

jofeb04 - I think you can hire TENS machines - try Boots, or do a google search (probably best to get someone else to do that for you!) and find out how much etc.

Hope you're feeling better soon. I had to go to bed the last few nights doped up on tablets, bio-freeze gel on my neck shoulders and down right arm, and propped my arm on a beanie pillow I have! Thankfully I also have a memory foam mattress and pillow which really helps. I must say I slept really well last night !

I had someone go in the back of me on 13th January and been having physio through the legal cover of my car insurance, definitely something you should add to your policy with everyone these days driving up your exhaust pipe! The whiplash didn't really affect me until 2nd day after accident I suffered terrible headaches for a couple of weeks after and tension all round my neck, shoulders and back and still quite stiff when I put my head down and unfortunately started up an old injury which had improved before xmas. I have managed just on a mixture of ibuprofen and paracetamol together, I sit with a roll behind me for my posture at work, keeping the car seat upright is also helpful. A wheat pack is quite soothing and sometimes when relaxing the tens machine can give some relief too.
The excercises are a must, but gently and often. I hope you feel better soon

did they do an x-ray?

Ok, so it seems to be getting worse. My head is still feeling to heavy for my neck, pain is stemming down my arms and my back.

I haven't had a x-ray, and my doctor is saying it will just take time, but........ it hurts really badly today.

At least my dc are being really good today and helpful with it.

Anyone?

Have you been X-rayed? I had a whiplash injury from a car accident when 24 weeks pregnant. Initial X-ray at A&E showed neck was fine. I had pains down my arms and found I wasn't able to walk properly. I went back a week later for another X-ray and it was found that there was a partial dislocation of my cervical spine and I ended up on traction. This is probably a worst case scenario, but shows that you should never just say it is "just whiplash".

Thanks for that Lily.

I've just been to the doctors this morning, and he wants me to have a x-ray. So got an appointment with the local hospital monday morning.