Most people imagine a work related neck injury as the result of a catastrophic accident. And while that can (and does) happen, the vast majority of on-the-job neck injuries are more mundane. In many cases, the most insidious injuries are those that sneak up on you over time.
As a result, workers should be aware of both types of work-related neck injuries: Those that occur suddenly and those that develop over time. Some neck injuries can be treated at home, while others may require clinical attention. For most patients, chiropractic care may help you recover more quickly and more fully from a work-related neck injury.
Common Types of Work Related Neck Injuries
Human heads are proportionally quite heavy. Your neck has a simple but very important job: hold your (heavy) head up and allow for a certain amount of mobility. In this way, your neck is kind of like a clutch background player. It doesn’t get a lot of glory, but that’s because it’s quietly and reliably performing an essential task for your body.
Because of this, you often only notice your neck when something goes wrong. When it comes to work related neck injuries, the most common causes include the following:
- Slips and falls: Unfortunately, slips and falls are one of the most common workplace injuries. Sometimes workplaces are slippery or employees aren’t wearing slip-resistant shoes. Other times, unorganized work areas can lead to trips and collisions. No matter how you land when you fall, your neck will often absorb some of the damage. Neck injuries from these falls may be apparent immediately or they may develop slowly over time.
- Whiplash: Most people think of whiplash as a driving injury, and that’s true. But here’s the thing: Many people drive on the job! Whether you’re delivering pizza or packages, or out running an errand for your boss, a car accident can result in a workplace injury. And as a result, whiplash is a very common workplace injury, too.
- Stress injuries: The way you sit and the way you move can both place stress on the neck. Even office workers, for example, may sit hunched over their keyboards all day, leading to significant neck strain. These stress injuries can build slowly over time. As a result, you may not notice the pain until it begins to interfere with your daily activities.
- Herniated disk: Between each of your vertebrae is a small disc of jelly-like material. This disc helps reduce friction and prevent painful bone-on-bone interactions. Sometimes discs get damaged, putting painful pressure on nearby nerves. This type of damage, called bulges or herniations, can result from stress over time or from sudden trauma.
Whether your injuries develop suddenly or over time, it’s important to seek out treatment when you begin to notice that something’s wrong. When it comes to neck injuries, prompt treatment is better than waiting until your pain gets to be too much to handle.
How Can You Prevent These Injuries?
Work-related neck injuries probably can’t be prevented all together. But there are some things you can do to minimize your own personal risk. For example:
- Make sure you are wearing proper safety gear. This can include proper shoes or work boots. Preferably, you want to make sure you wear shoes that have a non-slip sole.
- Follow all safety procedures. This includes when you’re driving. To minimize the possibility of accidents, make sure you follow the speed limit and all rules of the road. In other settings, make sure that you’re following all established safety protocols.
- Use good posture at work. Whether you’re a cashier at a grocery store or a professional working on a computer all day, good posture is going to help keep your neck in good shape.
- Be careful when you carry heavy materials. Most people know they need to protect their back, but good lifting practices will also help prevent injuries to your neck.
While good safety protocols can reduce the rate of accidents, they probably won’t eliminate them altogether. So when neck injuries do occur, it’s important to seek out treatment. With some minor neck injuries, your chiropractor may direct you to self-treat at home. Some of these home treatments may include:
- Using an ice pack to relieve pain and minimize inflammation. Try thirty minutes on and thirty minutes off (or some variation thereon).
- Taking over the counter pain medication: This can help relieve symptoms in the short term. However, if you take these medications for more than a few days, you’re simply masking the symptoms. That means you’ll want to talk to your provider about a more long term solution.
- Doing some light stretching or very light exercising (like going for a walk). This can prevent your neck muscles from tightening up. However, if you have any concerns about stretching or exercising or experience pain and discomfort when doing so, talk to your chiropractor first.
When Should You See a Chiropractor or Physical Therapist?
A physical therapist or chiropractor may be able to help you minimize pain and promote healing. At Diapso, our chiropractic treatments focus on improving your mobility by encouraging movements that aim to restore normal function
So, when should you make an appointment to see your chiropractor or physical therapist? Typically, you should make that appointment when:
- Immediately after you receive a traumatic or sudden injury. In many cases, getting this treatment earlier in the process can minimize the amount of pain you experience later.
- You begin experiencing daily pain. Just as with an injury, you should see a chiropractor as soon as you notice pain in your neck. The sooner the root causes are identified, the more quickly the pain and discomfort can be addressed.
- You experience any numbness, tingling, or weakness of your limbs or hands, especially if those feelings are associated with your neck pain. It’s critical, in these cases, to seek out a diagnosis before you perform any neck stretches or exercises.
- You are directed to by your provider.
When you experience a workplace accident, it’s often a good idea to get checked out by a chiropractor even if you’re not sure you feel immediate pain. That’s because it may take some time for pain from your injury to become noticeable.
At Diaspo, we have years of experience treating workplace neck injuries using both physical therapy and chiropractic care. Our treatments aim to get you back on your feet, help you manage your pain, and get you back to work. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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