What Is the Difference Between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain?
Pain is pain, or so you might feel. But when acute pain crosses the line to chronic pain, you need to be prepared for a whole new approach to pain management.
How to Heal from Whiplash Faster
Have you been in a car accident or experienced other trauma resulting in whiplash? It’s incredibly common. Approximately 1 million people suffer serious neck injuries from falls, sports injuries, and accidents. The pain caused by whiplash can last for months or years beyond the initial injury, but you can heal faster with the right help.
At CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center, with multiple locations in Maryland, our team of board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists can diagnose whiplash injuries and recommend treatments that will help you heal swiftly.
Whiplash basics
Whiplash is a neck injury in which a sudden movement causes the head to jerk back and forth like a whip. Technically, this type of injury is referred to as a cervical sprain.
Some people only experience mild symptoms of whiplash, such as soreness that fades rapidly. Others end up with chronic pain because the bands of muscle responsible for supporting the head get stretched or torn. Other common whiplash symptoms include the following:
- Severe stiffness and pain in the neck
- Neck pain that gets worse a few days post-injury
- Sharp, stabbing feelings of pain whenever you move
- Headaches in addition to your neck pain
The bottom line is, if you suffer whiplash, you should seek medical attention and not rely on how you feel. Because, if you get in a car accident or get hit on the playing field, adrenaline can easily mask the symptoms. So, no matter if you feel anything, you should see a doctor. Furthermore, you should see a doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if you experience any of the following:
- Pain so intense that you can’t sleep or turn your head
- Pain and stiffness that comes and goes and is unpredictable
- Arm, leg, or shoulder symptoms, such as numbness and tingling
- Loss of control over your bowel and/or bladder function
Recovering from whiplash
By seeking professional care swiftly, you can help speed your recovery and feel better sooner. At CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center, we order any necessary exams and imaging to get a clear understanding of the damage done to your cervical spine. Then, we design a treatment plan to help you get well. Your plan could include a number of therapies, such as the following:
- Using hot or cold packs
- Physical therapy
- Pain injections, facet block injections, or epidural nerve blocks
- Appropriate pain management treatments
- Acupuncture or massage
Our goal is to help you recover as fast as possible from your whiplash injury and get you back to normal.
If you have suffered a whiplash injury, book an appointment online or over the phone with CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center today. Our Maryland offices are located in Hyattsville, Gaithersburg, Lanham, Dundalk, Oxon Hill, Rosedale, and Olney, and we have two offices in Baltimore.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Why Does My Jaw Pop When I Chew?
A clicking or popping jaw might seem harmless at first, but it could indicate a temporomandibular joint disorder, known commonly as TMJ.
I'm Addicted to Opioids: Can Suboxone Help Me?
Opioids can be wonderful drugs for post-surgical patients or people in chronic pain. However, they can be addictive. If you’re suffering from opioid addiction, suboxone can help.
Understanding the Different Types of Headaches
Everyone has headaches from time to time, whether because of stress, allergies, or migraines. Here’s how to tell the difference between them.
Is Arthritis Reversible?
If you’re beginning to struggle with arthritis, you might be wondering whether a specialist can reverse the damage and alleviate your pain. Read on to find out.
3 Types of Exercise That Can Cause Neck Pain
An accident, injury, or even poor posture can cause neck pain, but many people may not realize that their workout routine could be putting them at risk. These three exercises can cause neck pain.