Head/neck injury help please?

I have years of medical experience, but I don't know muscular injuries well. ( I have emergency medicine and hyperbaric exp).
Side head impact has caused a neck injury (from resisting the impact). I couldn't move my head for 24 hours. I have been trying to rest it between working 10 hours shift. Taking anti-inflamitories and heating pad. It's a lot better but still very painful. any suggestions on how to speed up the healing? ( yeah, I know technically I should get an x-ray but I don't like going to the dr! how ironic)

Yep sounds like a health professional to me...won't see the doc when they should. LOL

As you know the neck contains a plethora of muscles and tendons that could have been strained. If that's the case, your treatment of anti-inflamitories and heating pads should work fairly well. A nice neck massage might help too. The head is extremely heavy so rest would be essential to a quicker recovery. You could also have some disk sublexations or herniations that could require intervention. If you notice increased pain or you start to experence any pain or numbess in the arms and hands, you most likely are pinching a nerve and should seek treatment (Yes..go to the doctor)

Thats exactly what you need to do though. You need to see a doctor and have, probably an MRI done. Who knows whats wrong in there. It could be worse than you think. It could turn into a long term thing. You may need physical therapy. Dont chance it.

side impact is serious
you may have injured facets! ligaments and tendons are injured for sure.
STOP the heat, it feels good but ice will help break the inflammatory cycle better than meds..ice 20minutes on, 20 minutes off and repeat as many times as you can. it will take about 4 applications of the ice before you feel the positive results.
you need x-rays with pillar views
see a physical therapist with trauma knowledge, chiropractor who treats injuries, or physical med.

It will be several weeks before you know the extent of the damage.