Medicines

Painkillers are often helpful. It is best to take painkillers regularly until the pain eases. This is better than taking them now and again just when the pain is very bad. If you take them regularly, it may prevent the pain from getting severe, and enable you to exercise and keep your neck active.

Paracetamol at full strength is often sufficient. For an adult this is two 500 mg tablets, four times a day.

Anti-inflammatory painkillers. Some people find that these work better than paracetamol. They include ibuprofen which you can buy at pharmacies or get on prescription. Other types such as diclofenac, naproxen, or tolfenamic need a prescription. Some people with asthma, high blood pressure, kidney failure, or heart failure may not be able to take anti-inflammatory painkillers.

A stronger painkiller such as codeine is an option if anti-inflammatories do not suit or do not work well. Codeine is often taken in addition to paracetamol.

A muscle relaxant such as diazepam is sometimes prescribed for a few days if your neck muscles become tense and make the pain worse.

Other advice

Some other advice which is commonly given includes:

A good posture may help. Brace your shoulders slightly backwards, and walk 'like a model'. Try not to stoop when you sit at a desk. Sit upright.

A firm supporting pillow seems to help some people when sleeping.

Physiotherapy. It is not clear whether physiotherapy makes much difference to the outcome. What may be helpful is the advice a physiotherapist can give on neck exercises to do at home. A common situation is for a doctor to advise on painkillers and gentle neck exercises. If symptoms do not begin to settle over a week or so, you may then be referred to a physiotherapist to help with pain relief and for advice on specific neck exercises.

Driving. To drive safely you must be able to turn your head quickly. It is be best not to drive until any bad pain or stiffness has settled. Treatment may vary and you should go back to see a doctor

if the pain becomes worse. if the pain persists beyond 4-6 weeks. if any numbness, weakness, or pins and needles develop in an arm or hand.

Other pain relieving techniques may be tried if the pain becomes chronic (persistent). Can whiplash injuries be prevented? Head restraints on car seats may prevent some whiplash injuries. They may stop the head from jolting backwards in a car crash.

However, up to 3 in 4 head restraints are not correctly adjusted. Head restraints may make a journey less comfortable when they are correctly adjusted as they will not allow your head to lie back.

However, if you have had a whiplash injury, you may be more particular about correctly adjusting the head restraint for yourself and for other passengers

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