[kimber45]

I had a near miss driving experience on Tuesday with a hard slam of the brakes. My body was restrained by my seatbelt but my neck did a hard snap forward. I went to the chiro Tuesday, Wednesday and twice yesterday. I've been icing my neck and back at every opportunity. I am fine as long as I don't look up, look down or turn my head left or right. Then I get a stabbing headache and pain. Does anyone have any idea how long this will last? Do you wait for the pain to subside before exercising or do you just suck it up and deal with the pain? It's all soft tissue damage. Strained neck and shoulder muscles, etc. Not really that big of a deal. Just very sore. I doubt I will make it worse if I workout.<br>
I haven't worked out since Tuesday morning. I'm thinking swimming is not a good idea since I have to turn my head to breathe.<img alt="sign18.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sign18.gif"> Maybe biking, unsure about running.<img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif"><br><br>
I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similiar injury and how long it takes to heal.<br>
Suggestions?

 

[RandMart]

Seven concussions; no whiplash, sorry.

 

[wipaddler]

I've had whiplash a couple times. 3 to be exact and they were all different.<br>
1st time took over 2 weeks to feel like a human<br>
2nd time only took 4 days or so but I landed on my lower back and then hit my head after.<br>
3rd time was a swift crack on the curling sheet and took 4 days.

 

[MBannon]

Honestly, I don't think running or cycling are great ideas, either - if it hurts to turn your head, you've got some serious safety issues. Especially on the bike, unless it's the stationary variety. And running is pretty high impact...<br><br>
Have you seen the doc?

 

[kimber45]

I was just going to try the trainer. I thought if I kept good position I'd be ok.<br>
I haven't been to the doctor. The chiro did take x-rays. No fractures. There's not much treatment for it. I just have to wait it out I guess.

 

[TriBob]

I had whiplash and 4 damaged vertebra c-3 to c-6. So mine was a very long time. Episodes of slipped disks gradually diminished over 2 years. It will always bother me.

 

[em73]

I gave myself whiplash with a particularly violent sneeze. My chiro laughed at me but told me it was more common than you'd think. I was back to relative normal after 3 - 4 days, I think.<br><br>
I think giving yourself a few more days to heal is probably your best bet. You wouldn't want to have this turn into a nagging thing. What did your chiro say about activity?

 

[kimber45]

The chiro said wait a few days. He said working out would make it hurt worse than it already does. We often butt heads.<img alt="roll_eyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/roll_eyes.gif"><br>
I figure it's going to hurt regardless of what I do. So I was thinking I should just suck it up, work out and endure the pain.<img alt="crybaby2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/crybaby2.gif">

 

[wipaddler]

I would wait it out for a couple of days. On the first one even walking made me queasy and doing any sneezing or laughing was out of the question. It was miserable.

 

[Silly Sally]

High speed collision with an 18-wheeler truck then the security rail on the other side of the highway left me with severe whiplash and a concussion.<br><br>
I'm still in physio, in fact, twice weekly. Still have headaches, still have all sorts of pain, ranging from dull to the sharp stabbing kind.<br><br>
I'd say take it easy until you know how much damage there is ...<br><br>
Good luck, we will be thinking of you.<br><br>
Sally

 

[donskiman]

I had a whiplash from a snowboarding crash. No real pain after a couple days, but then my left side started going numb. Xrays showed nothing. It took an MRI to discover I had a bulging disc. The bulge was impinging on a nerve. PT for a couple months alleviated the numbness, but every time I ramped up my training it would start coming back. I eventually had to change my training to include daily light upper body weights and that has kept me feeling good. Took almost 3 years to get back to where I was before the crash.

 

[teacherjen]

I vote for taking a few days off, Kimber, until you start to feel more human. Soft tissue damage is damage all the same. Even if a bone isn't broken. That kind of pain is telling you something-- I'd suggest listening to it!<br><br>
I hope you feel better soon!<br>
jen

 

[kimber45]

Gosh Sally, that sounds terrible. You're lucky to be alive.<br>
Don, I sure hope I don't have as much trouble as you have had.<br><br>
I don't know why I need several people to tell me the same thing. I heard, "take some rest" from the get-go but I'm kind of hard headed. I'm very much a creature of habit and like my routine. It completely messes up my day when I'm not trying to squeeze in all my work-outs. I feel kind of lost.<img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif"> I keep thinking I should be doing something.<br>
Thanks for your input. I'll wait until Monday and then maybe give it a go.

 

[Gelette]

I've had whiplash and treated plenty in my massage clinic.<br><br>
What I get my clients to do, having ascertained there is no further underlying injury of course, is to spend some time each day squeezing their sternocleidomastoid muscle. I have often treated people who have suffered headaches for several years post whiplash injury (whiplash injuries typically present with frontal headaches) and this approach is usually successful.<br><br>
I know this is a link about TMJ, but scroll down abit to find details about the SCM muscle: <a href="http://www.drshankland.com/myofascial_pain.html" target="_blank">http://www.drshankland.com/myofascial_pain.html</a><br><br>
Now squeeze that for several minutes, several times a day. Chances are you will find that it is much more tender on the injured side.. It can be devilishly sore, so just do little and often.

 

[Kate60]

Had it but did not know at the time because I never saw a Doctor after I was rear ended so badly the car was written off. The car was an old Cutlass Supreme so did not have the modern headrests we have now to prevent whiplash.<br><br>
Now 20 years on I have damage to C5/6 I found out in the last few years from certain kinds of strength training and cycling. Just know that once the acute injury heals you may have chronic problems down the road.

 

[pcsronbo]

Stop butting heads with the chiro and it will feel better soon <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"><br><br>
Sorry the smart-ass-reflex is uncontrollable <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
i have nothing useful to say except {{kimber45}} feel better.

 

[RandMart]

<i>"Y'know Jon Corzine was not the first NJ Governor to suffer a car accident. Jim McGreevey was often getting rear-ended."</i><br><br><i>Da-dum-DUM!!!</i>

 

[kimber45]

Kate, the possible chronic thing is what concerns me. I'm trying to do the right thing now in hopes of it resolving as quickly as possible. I was telling DH last night that I hope this doesn't turn into a long time problem. He had no idea what I was talking about.<img alt="roll_eyes.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/roll_eyes.gif"> But you don't suffer too many injuries pushing the buttons on the TV remote control.<img alt="sleepy1.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sleepy1.gif">

 

[Kate60]

Well I am sure that early tx will help with that.