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Back Pain Caused by Car Crash

Back pain is one of the most common car accident injuries that we see in our Metro West Orlando chiropractic office. If a back injury isn't properly treated, it can exacerbate symptoms from a stiff back to acute sharp pain. Even a minor car accident exerts greater forces than most people realize, resulting in back pain, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, abdominal pain, and more.

After a car accident, soft tissues around your spine may become swollen and tender. You may also have trouble moving normally due to pain. Seek immediate treatment if you experience any of these symptoms:

1. Pain that radiates down the buttocks and legs
2. Numbness or tingling in arms, hands, legs, or feet
3. Difficulty standing or walking
4. Muscle spasms
5. Stiffness

Learn more about some of the most common back injuries caused by car accidents and popular back pain treatment options, so it's easier for you to get the right care for your recovery.

Common Car Accident Back Injuries

Sudden acceleration, braking, swerving, or impact in a car accident can cause various types of back injuries. While injuries range in severity, it's vital that you address any back pain and other symptoms as soon as possible to prevent and minimize permanent damage. Ignoring the problem or self-treating back pain can aggravate the underlying problem.

If you have back pain following a car crash, then you may have one of these injuries:

Whiplash

Whiplash is among the most common injuries caused by car accidents. It happens when the head jerks back and forth rapidly, straining and tearing muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves in the neck. While pain and symptoms mainly affect the cervical spine, neck injuries can also cause back pain.

Back sprains and strains

A sprain or strain to the lumbar spine happens in a car crash when the impact causes you to twist or turn. Back sprains involve actual damage to the ligaments, whereas strains overstretch the ligaments, tendons, or muscles. In addition to back pain, you might also feel swelling, bruising, tenderness, and pain in your legs and arms.

Herniated discs

A herniated disc occurs when one or more discs inside the spine bulge out through weak spots in the vertebrae. The pain from a herniated disc may be sharp or dull, depending on which part of the spine is affected. Herniated discs often occur after an injury or fall, but they can also develop gradually due to wear and tear.

Facet joint injuries

Facet joints are located between vertebrae that allow us to move our bodies in different ways without damaging our spinal column. These joints can become injured in a car crash, producing back pain, neck pain, headaches, tenderness, stiffness, and difficulty moving.

Spinal disorders

Trauma to your back can lead to spinal disorders like spondylolisthesis, which occurs when a vertebra moves out of place onto the vertebra below it. People may experience back pain, weakness, or numbness.

Treatment Options for Back Pain

Back pain and other symptoms — such as neck pain, leg pain, headaches, numbness, stiffness, and tingling — should be addressed right away, particularly after a car accident. Immobilizing yourself or staying in bed for extended periods could cause more harm than good. That's why you should seek immediate medical attention to recover from your injury sooner.

Popular treatment options for back pain include:

1. Chiropractic care
2. Physical therapy
3. Back brace
4. Heat and ice
5. Anti-inflammatory medications
6. Muscle relaxants
7. Cortisone injections
8. Spinal surgery

Don't "tough it out" or rely on self-treatment as it can make your back pain worse and cause more serious damage that can't be reversed. Get checked out by a medical professional that specializes in car accident injuries, like Metro Chiroweoll, to ensure you're on the right treatment path.

Holistic Chiropractic Care for Back Pain

While using medication and injections for pain relief may be tempting, it won't fix the underlying problem. One of the most effective ways to treat back pain from car accidents is holistic chiropractic care. This approach focuses on the body's innate ability to heal itself through hands-on adjustments and other noninvasive techniques, such as massage, physical therapy, and nutrition.

Metro Chirowell is a chiropractic office in West Orlando, Florida that's passionate about delivering state-of-the-art care to help patients achieve optimal health and wellness. We use a combination of traditional and alternative chiropractic methods along with modern technology to create comprehensive treatment program. Contact us now to set up an appointment with an injury care specialist to explore your back treatment options!