Going home after your visit
Neck sprain (whiplash) — advice for adults
How to ease your neck and help it heal after a soft-tissue injury.
You have a neck sprain (sometimes called whiplash) — the muscles and ligaments of your neck are strained. No serious damage was found. It usually settles over a few weeks, and staying gently active helps it heal.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Go to A&E — or call 999 if it is severe — if any of these happen
These can be signs of a more serious problem and need checking urgently.
- Pins and needles, numbness or weakness in your arms or legs
- Problems controlling your bladder or bowels
- Trouble walking or keeping your balance
- Severe pain, or pain that is quickly getting worse
- New neck pain after a fall or hard blow, with tenderness in the middle of your neck
- A headache that will not settle, or that follows a head injury
CALL 999 Call 999 if any of these is severe, or if you cannot get to hospital safely.
Looking after your neck
- Keep your neck gently moving — do not use a collar, as resting it makes it stiffer.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you can take them.
- A warm pad or heat can ease tight muscles.
- Keep up your normal daily activities and go to work if you can.
- Use a supportive pillow at night.
Getting better
- Do gentle neck movements often — look up and down, side to side, ear to shoulder.
- The pain and stiffness usually ease over days to a few weeks.
- If it is not improving after a few weeks, see your GP or a physiotherapist.
Where to get help
999
Life-threatening emergency, or a red-flag symptom above
111
Urgent but not life-threatening, or you're not sure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7
Your team
Use the department phone in Your care details above