Whiplash is a sprain in the neck caused by a sudden movement. If your head suddenly moves forward or backward, it can forcibly stretch and tear some of the tendons and ligaments. Pain is often the end result. Although a person living in Utah could get whiplash treatment in Orem and get a neck brace, it’s still hard to sleep well with a sprained neck. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that you’ll have a good night’s rest even if you have whiplash. Here are some ways to help you sleep at night with a sprained neck:
Cradle your neck
When you’re about to sleep it’s more important to cradle your neck than your head. If you do the latter, your neck won’t have any support, which could exacerbate your condition. You can use a neck pillow. If you don’t have one, you can use a towel. Roll it tightly first and place it under your neck.
Do not move too much
When you’re sleeping, it’s important to stay in one position the whole time to prevent stretching your ligaments and tendons in your neck further. If you’re a restless sleeper, you can either ask your sleeping partner to keep you from moving too much. You can also barricade your whole body by putting several large pillows on both sides of your body to prevent you from tossing and turning.
Use a firm mattress
Your mattress should be firm enough so that no part of your body is sagging to the bottom, making it uncomfortable for you while you sleep. If your mattress is old and sags in the middle, try to replace it immediately. But if you can’t use pillows (firm ones) to make sure that your body is aligned. This is to minimize the stress on your back and neck muscles.
Take your painkiller on time
If you had whiplash and you went to see a doctor, they must have prescribed you a painkiller so that you could manage your pain. Take your medicine on time. It’s likely that your doctor told you to take one right before you sleep.
Avoid strenuous activities
If you’re healing from whiplash, you should avoid doing strenuous activities for a while so that the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck can rest, too. Avoid carrying heavy stuff. Don’t participate in any sports activities for a few days.
Also, try to keep your head from moving too much. Avoid the urge to suddenly twist your head when someone calls you. It may sound silly or trivial, but many patients make their whiplash worse just because they can’t keep their heads stuck in one direction. They find it hard to resist turning their heads to where the call has come from.
If you want to sleep better, even with a sprained neck, try not to move your head too much. Cradle your neck, not your head. Take your medicine and sleep on a mattress that’s firm enough to support your back and neck perfectly. Do all of these, and you can sleep like a baby again.
