1. Immobilize Immediately
A traumatic neck injury should be treated by professionals right away. However, since most cases of traumatic injury do not occur in the doctor's office, you will need to take action until help arrives. Keep the neck completely still after injury, either with a neck collar or by bolstering the sides of the neck with pillows or blankets. If able, keep the injured person on his back. If any of the nerves or bones in his neck or spinal column are damaged, further movement can lead to permanent injury or paralysis. It is best not to try and treat a traumatic neck injury yourself.
2. Use Ice and Anti-Inflammatorie
After the initial neck injury has been assessed and treated by a qualified professional, it is important to control swelling, which can cause pain and discomfort. This is especially true if the tissue surrounding a nerve has been damaged. Ice reduces swelling and has a numbing affect, which can help with pain control. Taking an anti-inflammatory will also reduce swelling and associated pain. Do not use heat immediately after a neck injury as it may further increase swelling in the area and will thus not help to control pain. After a few days have passed, it is appropriate to begin alternating ice and heat, as long as swelling is minimal.
3. Rest and Stretch
Keeping your neck supported following an injury allows the muscles to rest during recovery, which is especially important if they are prone to spasms. One way to do this is to lie down frequently, or simply to sit in a chair with a headrest. If you are unable to rest your neck sufficiently, you might want to wear a soft neck collar. A collar takes the pressure off of the neck muscles while allowing you to remain active in your daily routine. Stretching is another way to control spasms following neck injury. Slow, gentle stretches held for a longer time are preferred to sudden movements, which can cause further swelling and discomfort or even trigger additional spasms.
4. Strengthen
Once a neck injury has healed, it is important to complete neck exercises in order to strengthen the area again. This is especially true if your neck was immobilized for a long time, or if you were unable to move it through its full range of motion due to pain and discomfort. Strengthening the muscles in your neck helps to increase its stability, decreasing the risk for future injuries.
