A year ago I was in a car crash and got some major whiplash. Fast forward to about a month ago...I woke up suddenly with an awful pain in my neck that threw me flat. I could barely get up and walk, let alone run. I had to take several days off work and have been visiting a chiropractor 3 times a week.
My neck has gotten much better, although there is still a twinge when I try to stretch my neck back to look up. I also feel a twinge when I lean my head to one side. I can walk freely, look down and turn my head in either direction without pain most of the time. Although I'm still a bit stiff in the morning, I'm moving freely now: bending over, playing with my dog, running up the stairs 2 at a time. As of this week, I'm now down to seeing my chiropractor weekly. Obviously, I plan on asking him this question on Tuesday (which is my next appointment), but I'd also like to get some advice from runners.
How long would you recommend I wait before running again? Should I be 100% pain free? For how long? And what if I'm NEVER 100% pain free? I know that neck pain can sometimes be chronic, and it's been hurting for a month already. If my neck is never perfectly well, does that mean that I should give up running?
Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!
