Emergency and Urgent Care - Neck Injury Advice

What is a neck sprain?

A neck sprain can occur when your head is jolted backwards and forwards quickly. This can cause some of the muscles and ligaments in your neck to stretch and can cause pain. This pain can start a few hours after your injury has occurred. It usually gets worse over the first 3 days, and then gradually gets better over a few days or weeks. X-rays are not usually required.

What are the symptoms?

• Pain and stiffness in your neck, jaw, shoulders, arms or lower back
• Inability to move your neck properly
• Dizziness, headache, blurred vision, clicking jaw, pain on swallowing
• Difficulty concentrating

These symptoms occur for many reasons, usually related to muscle tension, they are generally not serious and will get better. The best treatment is to correct your posture and follow the advice in this leaflet.

How is it treated?

Pain relief

• Initially it may be helpful to use a covered ice pack to ease your pain. NEVER apply ice directly onto your skin. DO NOT use for more than 15 minutes 3-4 times a day
• Alternatively heat can be soothing, so a covered hot water bottle may be used, or you can buy heat patches from the supermarket. If using a hot water bottle DO NOT use for more than 15 minutes 3-4 times a day
• Painkillers may help to keep you moving, so sensible use of painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen will help. However, if you are already taking medication for another health condition, it is advised that you check with your local pharmacist before taking painkillers. ALWAYS follow the instructions on the packet
• Occasionally, stronger painkillers such as codeine phosphate may be recommended. If you are taking these, you should drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in fibre, such as fruit and vegetables, to avoid constipation
• Diazepam or similar drugs are occasionally prescribed for 1-2 days to relax the muscles in the neck

Correct sitting position

• Sit in a firm chair
• Support the natural hollow in the lower part of your back with a small, firm cushion or rolled up towel
• Keep your shoulders back

Correct sleeping position to help neck pain

• Always sleep on a firm bed either on your back or side, never sleep on your face
• If you sleep on your side there are 2 main points to remember:

○    Your head should remain in line with your spine. Use a rolled up towel placed inside your pillowcase to form a ridge to support your neck.
○    The arm on which you are lying should be kept in front of your chest, not under it or behind it.

Exercises

It is strongly advised that you move your neck and return to your normal activities as soon as possible. Neck exercises should be gentle and slow, especially in the first few days after injury. They will probably cause some pain due to the process of healing. However, pain should not be excessive and neck movement should not cause any other symptoms e.g. pins and needles, numbness or weakness in your arms or hands. If you experience any of these symptoms you must attend an Emergency Department.

Rotation

• Straighten up and look ahead
• Now look round over each shoulder in turn as far as you can
• Repeat 10 times

Lateral flexion

• Straighten up
• Try to touch your ear down to your shoulder
• Do not shrug your shoulders
• Repeat on the other side
• Repeat the sequence 10 times

Flexion & extension

• Straighten up
• Bend your neck forwards and touch your chin on your chest
• Then bring your neck backwards and look up to the ceiling
• Repeat 10 times

Shoulder shrug

• Shrug your shoulders whilst breathing in
• Relax them whilst breathing out
• Try rolling your shoulders at the same time
• Repeat 10 times

Shoulder rotation

• One arm at a time, circle your arms, backwards and forwards, like swimming crawl and backstroke
• Repeat 10 times

Neck stretches 1

• Making your neck muscles work without moving your head will help reduce pain and fatigue
• Put your hand on the side of your head and apply increasing pressure
• As you resist you will feel your muscles contracting
• Maintain the force for 10 seconds then release. Repeat on the opposite side
• Put your hand on your forehead and push forwards onto your hand. Maintain the force for 10 seconds then gradually release
• Put your hand on the back of your head and push backwards. Maintain the force for 10 seconds then gradually release
• Repeat the sequence 10 times

Neck stretch 2

• Stand upright leaning against a wall or flat surface
• Push your chin backwards towards the wall. You will feel this stretch the muscles in your neck and upper back
• Maintain the force for 10 seconds and then release. Repeat 10 times

Try to repeat all of these exercises hourly or more frequently if possible. Each day try to stretch your neck further.

DO NOT continue the exercises of they make you feel dizzy. DO NOT circle your neck and head. DO NOT slouch.

Physiotherapy

If your neck symptoms are still interfering with your ability to do normal things after 6 weeks, this is the time to seek further professional advice from either your GP or NHS Physiotherapist.

If you live in the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale area, you can refer yourself by using the following link: www.physiodirect.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Work

If you do not feel capable of working either due to pain or reduced movement/mobility, you are able to self-certify sickness for the first 7 days.

You must complete a self-certification form found on the government website and give this to your employer. This entitles you to statutory sick pay from your employer for up to 7 days.

To access the self-certification form follow this link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-sickpay- employees-statement-of-sickness-sc2

If you feel you need longer than 7 days off work, you must contact your GP for a sick note. The Urgent Treatment Centre does not issue sick notes.

If you require further advice or information please contact NHS 111 via telephone or their website, or you can contact Rochdale Urgent Treatment Centre – 01706 517023.