Old git

I was in a rear-end shunt car accident in May last year. Not my fault! That booby-prize belonged to the cloth-eyed clown who ran into the back of me. While my car was written-off I wasn't too badly hurt – I got off lightly really – some chest soreness from the seat belt and whiplash which initially effected my neck and right shoulder. Physio over the following few months had gradually eased the discomfort and reduced the after-effects – neck and shoulder pain and a pins and needles sensation down the right arm ending at the thumb. I think I've been free from all symptoms since October – certainly I cannot remember having any problems in December. 
A few days ago, however, I was reminded how painful and incapacitating whiplash injuries are.
I was driving to work a couple of Wednesdays ago and felt a twinge on the right base of my neck. “Must have slept in a funny position.” Gradually over the day the neck became stiffer and more painful. By the time I got home around 6 pm it was very sore. Popped a couple of Ibuprofen tablets before bed. Had a poor night – not only was the neck sore and itself sleep-disturbing but The Little Worker, developing a cold or sinus infection, started snoring fit to wake the dead. By 1 in the morning I did something I've never done before – I evacuated the bedroom and went to sleep in the spare single bed. Midge the dog was surprised to have a visitor in the family room at that time of night but she wasn't going to vacate her comfy spot on the lounge just because I walked through. Didn't sleep too well and by morning my neck was worse – unable to drive and feeling knackered I decided that a day resting and taking anti-inflammatory medication was the best thing to do.
Over the next few days the neck slowly improved: I was able to manage driving so I could get in the weekly supplies and I managed the weekly laundry tasks. I saw a physio on Monday and his manipulations and massaging eased my neck a lot but I still decided not to attempt work. This physio was not the one  I'd usually see - his practice was closed until 20 January so I had to search for another. By a roundabout method I ended up at Southside Physiotherapy and was very pleased with the highly professional and caring ministrations of Will the physio. Saw my GP on Tuesday and he recommended another physio who specialised in the dry needling technique. Pat explained that he'd been a patient of this particular practice and had had dry needling and it had been a big success for him. He did rather put the dampener on by implying that the needles used were large but nothing ventured, nothing gained and an implicit trust in Pat so I made another appointment on Thursday to see Berg Physiotherapy. I was again impressed with the professionalism of Laura and her chirpy, happy and positive outlook. She explained what was going to happen and I felt fine with that. Similar to acupuncture techniques but acting on muscles rather than nerves the process was mildly uncomfortable rather than painful – more like a cramping at the needle application points. There was also more manipulation of neck muscles and some stretching. By Friday I was aching as Laura had foretold so GP prescribed 50mg Diclofenac was taken but the neck and shoulder felt more free than in the previous several days. 
Now on Monday my neck is the best it has been since the first twinge almost a fortnight ago. Driving still causes quite a severe pain along the right arm – I remember this also from the post-accident period. I have another appointment with Laura this Friday. It will be interesting to find out if more dry needling makes any further difference. Like most physical damage to an aging body it will also be a case of managing what's current with constant stretching and maintenance of a better posture. Tempus fugit