Neck and Back Pain After a Car Accident
A car accident can happen in a matter of seconds, anywhere, at anytime. Some might appear minor, with no obvious damage to your body or the car. However, the next day you might be unable to move your neck or feel a lingering pain in your back.
Car accidents are one of the most common reasons people will seek out the assistance of a chiropractor, like a chiropractor Rockville, MD trusts. Even a slow moving fender bender can cause damage to the body, particularly the neck and back because these areas are highly sensitive to movement, impact, and force.
If you have been injured in a car accident and would like to know whether or not a chiropractor could alleviate your pain, you can call our clinic today.
The Hidden Injuries of Car Accidents
Regardless of how insignificant a car accident might seem, there will always be a certain degree of danger in terms of injuries that are not immediately noticeable. For this reason you should always seek medical attention.
A car accident can cause long term injuries to many areas of the body including the neck and back. If you’re experiencing headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, numbness, and pain, you should see a doctor. Once any serious injuries have been ruled out, a chiropractor can evaluate you for a herniated disc, compression fracture, and other common injuries.
Understanding Whiplash
A car accident can cause the driver and passengers to take on a large amount of unexpected force. This jerking motion, also known as whiplash, can lead to aches, pain, cracks, ruptures, fissures, and other injuries to the neck and spine. Usually when whiplash occurs, you will feel the impact around the center of the back. Over the course of the next 12-24 hours, the pain migrates to the neck area. The effects of whiplash can last for days, weeks, months, and in some instances, years. The signs and symptoms can vary depending on the force of the impact. Some include:
- Pain in the upper, lower, and mid back
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Unable to sit or stand for long hours
- Ringing sensation in the ears
- Numbness in the legs or arms
- In severe cases, whiplash can cause osteoarthritis or spinal stenosis.
General Symptoms of Neck and Back Injuries Sustained in a Car Accident
If you are experiencing any of the following, please see a doctor. Once you have been appropriately treated, you can talk with a chiropractor.
- General pain in the neck, back, and shoulders
- Headaches and/or migraines
- Tingling sensation
- Numbness in the limbs
- Burning-like sensations
- Decreased range of motion in the neck
- Unable to walk
- Unable to move or lift objects
Common Car Accident Injuries that A Chiropractor May Treat
- Lumbar sprain
- Herniated disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Whiplash
- Annular tear
- Muscle spasms or twinges
- Symptoms Felt From Damaged Facet Joints
- Stiffness
- Soft tissue injury
- Muscle weakness (*typically results weeks or months after the accident)
Talk with a Chiropractor About Your Pain
Diagnosing any of the above may involve a series of tests including X rays and MRIs. Without treatment, there is a risk of long term of permanent damage. If you are experiencing any kind of back or neck pain after a car accident, it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at the Pain Arthritis Relief Center for their insight into chiropractic care and neck injuries.