Car accidents, no matter how minor, can lead to pain and discomfort that may last for several days, weeks, months, or even years. Soreness, pain, and muscle aches may take a long time to heal post-collision.
You can take several steps to help manage your pain and discomfort at home with these six ideas. As always, check with your medical professional before attempting any at-home regime:
Yoga
Yoga can help manage pain and discomfort by reducing stress and anxiety, relaxing muscles, building strength, and reducing stress throughout the body. Deep breathing yoga exercises can help promote the flow of oxygen and encourage natural healing. Yoga stretches and exercises can also help improve range of motion, improve posture, and reduce stress on the spine. However, it is advisable to be extremely careful while performing yoga and not overdo the stretches to prevent further damage or injury.
Regular exercise
Walking, stretching, and low-impact exercises can help improve core strength, relax tight muscles, reduce stress, and improve overall health and provide relief from pain and discomfort. However, it is always advisable to consult a medical professional before starting a new exercise and learn the correct way to perform stretches and exercises to avoid injury or worsening symptoms.
Hot and cold treatments
A hot compress in the form of an electric heating pad or warm grain bags can help relax tight muscles, reduce inflammation, encourage circulation of blood and nutrients, and help manage your pain.
A cold compress in the form of a cool gel pack or ice pack can help reduce swelling by reducing the flow of blood to the affected area. A cold compress can also help numb the pain and provide relief.
Alternative hot and cold treatments at home can be effective in managing pain and discomfort and reduce dependency on pain medications. However, it is recommended that care and caution are exercised when applying hot or cold treatment to prevent damage or injury. Apply hot or cold treatment for not more than 10 minutes per session as it may damage your skin.
Massage
Massage can help relax tight muscles, improve circulation, and help reduce stress and promote the healing process thereby providing much-needed relief from pain and discomfort.
Eat healthily, stay hydrated
A nutrition-rich diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals can promote the natural healing process and help repair damage naturally. Eating a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, beans, and protein can help improve overall health and provide the energy and nutrients to encourage healing.
Water contains electrolytes, minerals and helps break down food to convert it to energy and nutrients. Water helps in blood circulation and removing waste and toxins from the body. Staying hydrated helps your tight muscles relax, prevent cramping, encourage circulation of blood and nutrients to injured organs, tissues, or joints and promote natural healing.
Rest
Rest and sleep can help maintain overall health and provide pain relief and comfort. When recovering from pain, injury, and trauma post-collision, plenty of rest and sleep can help the body heal naturally. Rest can help maintain a healthy immune system and reduce stress to provide relief from pain and discomfort.
You can effectively manage pain and discomfort resulting from a car accident at home to promote the healing process and reduce dependency on pain medication. However, if you experience worsening symptoms or sudden, severe pain, it is advisable to seek professional medical care and treatment.
Reach Out to Us
All of the doctors at South Orange Chiropractic are dedicated to helping you get back on your feet in the best way possible. We work with many insurance companies and walk you through each step you need to experience our service.
Reach out today to book your appointment. Let’s get you back to feeling good again.
