Whiplash Treatments

Treatment

Treatment includes:

• Heat or ice packs—Talk with your doctor about using heat or ice to relieve muscle tension and pain. Wrap the heat or ice pack in a towel. Never place it directly on the skin.
• Medications—These may include:
  • Pain relievers
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Muscle relaxants
• Neck (cervical) collar—This may be given for short-term or occasional use. It will depend upon the extent of injury.

Current belief is that a better recovery can result from earlier activity including:

• Physical therapy—therapy and modalities may help strengthen neck muscles and improve neck motion; exercises may begin within two days of injury
• Mobilization

There is some evidence of the effect of the following:

• Chiropractic—manipulation of the spine done by a chiropractor
• Cervical facet injections
• Radiofrequency neurotomy
• Pulsed magnetic field treatment

If you are diagnosed with whiplash, follow your doctor's instructions .