Because neck injuries can be caused by everything from car accidents to poor posture, they constitute one of the most common complaints of pain in adults. One common type of neck injury is a neck sprain. Many of our readers are asking, “How long does a neck sprain last, how long does a neck sprain take to heal?”
Suffering a neck sprain can be painful and difficult to recover from. If you’ve suffered a neck injury at work, keep reading to learn how long it takes to heal from a sprain or more serious neck-related injuries.
How Long Does It Take To Heal From A Neck Sprain?
There’s no exact way to measure how long a person might suffer from a neck sprain. Not only does each individual heal differently, but a neck sprain can also vary in severity.
Your neck is made up of seven vertebrae connected by a series of ligaments and muscles. When you sprain your neck, you’re actually over-stretching or even tearing some of those ligaments and muscles.
A pulled neck muscle could be the result of turning too quickly and jarring your neck. In this case, the pain will likely fade within just a few days. You’ll also be unlikely to suffer any lasting effects from your neck injury.
But it’s also possible to suffer a much more severe neck injury. If several ligaments and/or muscles are strained or torn, or if the tear is deep, the pain could last much longer. Even after several months of pain, a person might experience lasting pain after that as well, such as when they turn their neck a certain way.
What Can Be Done To Treat A Torn Ligament In Your Neck?
After seeing your doctor and verifying that you’ve suffered a neck sprain, they’ll let you know what your treatment options are.
If you suffered only a minor sprain, your doctor may not offer any treatment options. Instead, they may recommend you avoid too much movement and give yourself time to heal.
Pain relievers like aspirin will help reduce some of the swelling that occurs with a neck sprain, which can help with the pain as well. An ice pack applied for 15 to 30 minutes will also help in the days immediately after your injury occurs.
For more severe strains, your doctor may require you to wear a soft neck collar. This gives your head some support and takes that pressure off of your neck and your injured ligaments.
A deep tissue massage in the affected area, as well as cervical traction, may also be used to treat severe strains.
In either case, if your injury occurred due to your work or occupation, your doctor will likely recommend that you take time off or refrain from heavy lifting or operating machinery until you are healed.
What Type Of Doctors Treat a Neck Sprain
Neck pain can come from many different sources, but one of the most common is a neck sprain. A neck sprain occurs when the ligaments or muscles in the neck are stretched beyond their normal range of motion. This can happen due to a sudden force, such as a car accident, or from repetitive motions that, over time, put stress on the tissues.
While most neck sprains will heal on their own with time and rest, some may require treatment from a doctor. If you are experiencing severe pain, numbness, or weakness in your arms or legs, it is important to see a doctor right away as these could be signs of a more serious condition. Your primary care doctor can evaluate your symptoms and determine if you need to be seen by a specialist.
There are several different types of doctors that treat neck pain, depending on the cause and severity of the problem. For example, if you have a herniated disc, you may need to see a neurologist or orthopedic surgeon.
If your neck pain is due to arthritis, you may need to see a rheumatologist. And if your neck pain is the result of a muscle strain, you may need to see a physiatrist or physical therapist.
No matter what the cause of your neck pain is, it is important to get it checked out by an experienced doctor so that you can get the appropriate treatment. Depending on the diagnosis, there are many different options available to help relieve your pain and improve your quality of life.
Can You Get Workers’ Compensation for a Neck Sprain?
If you were injured at work and have a neck sprain, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is a state-regulated insurance program that provides benefits to employees who are injured on the job. These benefits can include medical expenses, income replacement, and death benefits.
To be eligible for workers’ compensation, you will need to file a claim with your employer. Your employer will then send the claim to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The insurance carrier will review the claim and determine if you are eligible for benefits.
If your claim is approved, you will receive benefits that will help cover the costs of your medical treatment and lost wages. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision.
If you have a neck sprain and think you may be eligible for workers’ compensation, it is important to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the claims process.
Getting Workers’ Compensation For Your Neck Sprain
A neck sprain can be incredibly painful, not to mention take a long time to recover from. Not only can this injury keep you from working, but it could also prevent you from doing other things you enjoy, like exercising or even playing with your kids.
If you sprained your neck while you were at work, it could be considered a work-related injury, though there may be exceptions to that.
Call (888) 590-4030 to make an appointment with an experienced workers’ comp doctor to evaluate your neck pain. Don’t delay; call now. Some injuries can be hidden for days or even weeks.
