Did a Car Accident Wreck Your Back: Don't Wait Anymore

Back pain is one of the most common physical injuries after a car accident. Even minor crashes, like a sudden fender bender, Back pain is one of the most common physical injuries after a car accident. Even minor crashes, like a sudden fender bender, can cause spine and soft tissue injuries due to jerking. There are times when these symptoms of car accident injuries aren't felt for hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. Back pain creeping on slowly is common and is mainly caused by a herniated disc, a spinal injury, or an injury to soft tissues. 

 

Since the nerve roots become inflamed or irritated, the pain worsens. Before considering what action to take when experiencing back pain immediately after a motor vehicle accident, you should first understand what exactly led to the back pain in the first place.

How Car Accidents Cause Back Pain and Suffering?

The expert doctors from Injury Rely believe that when a car crash occurs, it is the violent motion resulting from the sudden collision that can cause fractures, strains, and injuries to most body parts. 

 

The vulnerable areas are around the neck, spinal cord, and back. The severe back pain that one feels after an auto accident is due to the force on the spine following the impact. As the driver's seat has limited space, it is the force that stops momentum because it gets confined to a smaller area. This impacts the brisk power and then puts pressure on both the back and neck. 

Common Causes of Car Accident Back Pain After A Collision

Back pain refers to a group of injuries that cause discomfort in the back and neck. The majority of these minor car accident back pain heal up with the help of home remedies; others are serious back injuries that require extensive medical attention or surgery.  Back pain occurs because of severe car accident injuries.

 

Muscle Sprains and Strains

Muscle sprains and strains are among the most common back injuries after an accident. In more severe crashes, fractures may also occur. The lower back is mainly supported by the ligaments, tendons, and muscles that run along the back from the shoulders to the tailbone. When pressure is applied, these tissues do stretch beyond their normal range, causing lower back pain and spasms. 

 

Whiplash

Whiplash back pain is a sudden car accident injury that takes place when the impact makes the neck and head whip forward and backwards. It causes damage to the entire spine's structures, including the tendons, bones, and ligaments. If you experience whiplash, you may face pain in the lower back (lumbar spine), upper back (thoracic spine), and neck(cervical spine).

 

Bulging Disc

It is located between the movable vertebrae; there are 23 discs present within the spine. Each disc acts as a cushion between the vertebrae, allowing one to bend and move easily. The force caused by a car accident can lead to the bulging out of place and disc slipping. When these displaced discs press against the nerves of the spinal cord, they cause severe back pain. 

 

Facet Joint Injury

It is the facet joints that connect the bones and the spine. It helps to maintain the flexibility of the spine. Nerve roots do pass through these joints and into the extremities. High-impact car accidents cause injuries to the facet joint.  These injuries make it difficult to perform even the basic daily tasks. 

 

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries seem like a serious and common consequence of a car accident. As per the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Centre, car accidents happen to be the leading cause of new spinal cord injuries, accounting for 38 per cent of all cases. 

 

These types of injuries occur when the spinal cord is either severed or damaged, resulting in a loss of movement and functioning below the level of the injury. 

 

However, the severity of the injury depends mainly on the location and extent of the damage to the spinal cord. The symptoms of a spinal cord injury after an immediate car accident include loss of movement and sensation in the arms, legs, and other parts of the body. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, bladder or bowel dysfunction, and changes in sexual function.

What are the Back Injury Symptoms After Following A Car Accident?

Car accident victims do feel a bit of disorientation and find it hard to determine if their injuries are related to a back problem or not. It is the fractures, compressed nerves, and inflammation that cause back pain after an immediate car accident. Symptoms experienced range from manageable discomfort to a complete inability to perform everyday tasks. 

 

Back injury symptoms that one might experience after an auto accident include:

 

Sharp Pain 

After an immediate car accident, victims may experience sharp back pain, even with simpler movements like getting out of bed or standing after sitting.

 

Back Stiffness

It is mostly common for one's back to lose flexibility following a typical car accident. It happens because the muscles have tensed up to protect the body by causing stiffness. This type of stiffness can subside within a short period or persist for several days if no medical care is received. 

 

Burning pain 

After a car accident, one may experience a burning sensation in the back, buttocks, and legs. This pain may be temporary and mild, or it can persist and worsen over time if untreated.

• Discomfort and pain occur when you stand or walk. 
• Tingling and numbness occur in the feet, hands, arms, and legs. 
• Dizziness and disorientation occur due to cervical vertebrae injuries and whiplash. 
• Neck and shoulder pain do occur due to facet joint injuries.

What to Do?

As there is a range of signs and symptoms, you are required to note how you feel and how often they occur, and seek medical treatment ASAP. 

 

You can call your insurance company or take out a car accident claim for medical bills, compensation, and mental and emotional injuries. Before visiting our doctor from Injury Rely, these tips can help manage your pain. 

 

• Take ample rest and apply heat to soothe tense and tight muscles.
• A 15-minute cold compress can help reduce swelling. 
• Massage therapy
• Gentle exercise

 

Never ignore the warning signs of a back injury, even after a car accident. It is a minor back injury that can become a chronic and degenerative spinal condition if it is left untreated. We have skilled medical professionals who evaluate your spine to determine the most appropriate treatment.

 

Diagnostic Testing

Getting rid of back pain after an automobile accident requires you to consult a doctor from Injury Rely, who treats a range of medical issues.

 

It becomes difficult to distinguish between neurological back pain symptoms and other health issues.  

 

At Injury Rely, our skilled doctors pinpoint the significant source of back pain by conducting a thorough physical examination and comprehensive diagnostic tests using state-of-the-art technology.

 

To get to the root of the problem, our doctors may perform EMG tests, which help diagnose whether the issue is a nerve or muscle disorder. These tests diagnose whether the issue is a nerve or muscle disorder and reveal the types of nerve damage and dysfunction.

 

• Whiplash causes two types of nerve injuries.
• Referred pain is the most common. It occurs when ligaments and discs irritate the nerves. 
• Nerve root impingement occurs when the affected joint and discs interfere with nerve function through pinching and pressure.

 

We aid you to evaluate for traumatic brain injury and use Electroencephalogram tests, sometimes, qualitative EEGs and when indicated, DTI imaging.

 

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medication

A doctor may recommend OTC medications to manage the symptoms of a back injury after an immediate car accident. Pain relief can be beneficial in alleviating symptoms throughout the day or during specific activities, such as when performing rehabilitation exercises. In cases of ongoing or more severe symptoms, a doctor may recommend prescribed medications in the short term, such as a corticosteroid injection.

 

Exercises 

Rehabilitation exercises are a critical part of recovering from a car accident back pain injury. In the early stages, this may include gentle movements and stretches to alleviate the pain. As the symptoms improve, a physiotherapist recommends exercises to strengthen and improve mobility in the affected structures of the spine. If you're unsure where to begin, a physiotherapist can recommend exercises tailored to your stage of recovery.

 

Seek Help From An Experienced Physiotherapist

If you aren't sure what to do after your accident, consult a health professional who knows what to look for in car accidents. 

 

An experienced physiotherapist from Injury Rely, who is trained in musculoskeletal injuries, will know what to assess and how to manage your injury after a car accident. They recommend the most suitable and effective treatments to help you recover as quickly as possible.

 

Conclusion

At Injury Rely, our doctors can create a customised treatment plan to relieve pain, restore mobility, and support your recovery. We refer you for the correct treatment for all sorts of internal injuries like TBI, soft tissue injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. Recently, if you got involved in a car accident and are experiencing severe back pain, you can reach out to us.