Minor neck pains usually dissipate within several days. Considering that you can experience neck soreness from sleeping in the wrong position, most people literally shrug off neck stiffness and soreness at first. But when you aren't able to move your neck from side-to-side because of muscle tightness, the answer is locating a doctor who provides neck pain relief. These tips show people experiencing chronic neck pain how to avert further discomfort and when to get immediate medical care.

Whiplash and Neck Injuries

Anytime you are in a vehicle during a collision, you can experience whiplash and subsequent neck injuries. Most whiplash sufferers seek out neck pain relief long after they got into accidents. Whiplash cannot be diagnosed until you seek out medical care. Since most people who don't see obvious injuries decline emergency services, minor neck pains aren't thought to be serious.

If you get into a car wreck and the impact causes airbags to deploy you, should be weary of serious neck and spine injury. Always get medical help so that neck pain relief management is immediate and effective. Once you are under the care of a doctor, MRI scans can show what type of neck injury you have sustained.

Neck Trauma From Falls

When you take a tumble, any part of your body can be injured. Even if you don't feel any pain as a result of falling down a flight of stairs, off a roof, or off of a ledge, minor neck pain may be a sign of severe trauma. If you hit your head during a fall hard enough, you may get a concussion. When a concussion occurs, your brain may not register pain centered around other regions of the body. In essence, a traumatic fall may not feel painful because the body could be in shock.

Use a cold compress for neck pan relief after a fall and call emergency services so that you don't accidentally fall again. It is very possible for equilibrium to be off, so you should not drive or walk far, whether you feel fine or not. If your neck has been injured in a fall, you may have a fractured spine or have extensive bruising. Laying down can help to keep your neck aligned, but you want to stay awake until you get medical clearance.

People who experience traumatic neck injuries don't always have symptoms like pain to let them know what has happened to their bodies. If you can't move your neck normally, have continued neck stiffness, or feel swelling around your throat, get in contact with your nearest emergency health facility.