A whiplash is a neck injury caused by sudden vigorous head movement from the front to the back or vice versa, often caused during a motor vehicle accident but there are many other causes. Read this if you want to know how to stop whiplash pain.
The Accident
I experienced an injury that left me with both physical and emotional pain—a whiplash and concussion incident. It was actually one of the most embarrassing moments of my life: fainting in a sauna. Can you imagine waking up naked, surrounded by strangers? Nobody covered me because they were trying to cool me off. Anyway, I now can laugh about it, but then I just felt so embarrassed.
The Pain
After the accident, I experienced intense pain in my neck and head, and I felt emotionally drained. It felt like my head was stuffed, making it hard to think clearly or focus. Although it wasn’t my first concussion or whiplash, this time felt more painful than before.
CT scans usually don’t show whiplash complaints.
The Initial Treatment
The doctor who replaced my usual one during the holidays told me, after several scans, that there was nothing physically wrong with my neck. They suggested the best course of action was to join a support group or see a psychologist. I didn’t feel like sharing my pain with others, so I chose the second option.
Despite numerous sessions with the psychologist, my pain persisted, and my mood didn’t improve. Although frustrated, I continued with the recommended therapy, believing it was the best solution at the time. Looking back, I realize I should have sought a second opinion.
I had a whiplash after fainting in the sauna and years later when I was hit from behind during cycling. (this is not me on the picture, just as illustration)
A Repeat Injury and a Surprising Solution
Many years later, in 2024, I was rear-ended while cycling, resulting in yet another whiplash (fortunately, no concussion this time). Despite the pain, I continued cycling to safely escort a group of kids to my daughter’s hockey match.
A picture taken a week before the accident when I was escorting my daughter and her friends on their bicycles going to hockey.
A Miraculous Moment Of Relief by My Son
My son and I watched the match, but I had so much pain in my head and neck that I could not think clearly. Another parent asked me if I was about to faint; apparently, I looked awful. With my former whiplash experience in mind, I asked my son (10 years old) to stand on a bench and massage my trapezius muscle with his elbow. He said, “Mom, there are two big balls near your shoulders, I feel them. Shall I crack them?” And he did. The people standing next to me said they had never seen anything like it. Apparently, I was totally white and looking about to faint.
Our 10-year old son Alex giving massage on my trapezius muscle to break the sticky fascia right after the bicycle accident, to release neck pain and headache.
Then, when my son massaged my trapezius and cracked the two knots in my shoulders, my head flushed, got color again, my eyes sparkled, and I had a smile. A miracle! It was amazing. I felt like going from feeling someone had put a bag over my head because I couldn’t breathe to feeling normal, good, and happy again!
This is Manel pressing with his elbow on my trapezius muscle, breaking sticky fascia. This is the exact movement our 10-year old son did to me to relieve the first severe whiplash pain after the accident.
Continued Relief and Gratitude
I am so happy that I taught my son Nuad Thai Massage; it is a skill for life, helping oneself and others improve health. Anyway, of course, one short massage does not do the whole trick. I needed a bit more. So in the coming days, I made sure I massaged the area. And more in detail, I had to do the last three positions of the course of level 1 foundation (if you have done this course with us, you know what I am talking about) of Thai yoga massage. So I massaged my neck myself and my three points on the skull with a finger hook. And it is really easy; it really works. Because I know the techniques, I can instruct anyone or do it myself.
This Nuad Thai Massage technique: ‘Finger hook skull’ is great for whiplash relief. I do it to myself as well.
Addressing the Root Cause
So going back to the beginning of this email, talking with the psychologist did not work. What did work was addressing the cause of the problem, namely the sticky fascia that were pressing on my nerves. I just needed to break them so they were no longer pressing on my nerves, and I no longer had pain. My neck pain disappeared, my headache disappeared, and I had the feeling that blood flow streamed better in my head, I got more blood supply, therefore more oxygen.
This Nuad Thai Massage technique ‘Ice picking neck’ is great to relieve whiplash pain. I also do this to myself, by interlacing my hands behind my neck and pressing with my thumbs in, on the muscle next to the neck cervicals.
Sharing the Knowledge
I really wish I had known the Nuad Thai massage techniques earlier in my life. That is why we (Manel and I) are teaching our kids massage since they were born, with great results. But that is a whole other story!
So anyway, please, if you know someone who is suffering from whiplash and they have tried everything with no success, give them the last three pictures of the Nuad Thai massage. And if you don’t know what I am talking about, just find someone who does, or you can learn it yourself.
I just like to shout it out so everyone can hear because it is terrible that people suffer from whiplash complaints for so long.
Anyway, if you would like to learn Nuad Thai Massage yourself, feel free to schedule a short phone call. Otherwise, have a pain-free day!
Nicole (& Manel)
Massage School ITM Thai Hand Amsterdam
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