How can a car accident cause back pain?

There are lots of different injuries that can be sustained during a car accident, and back pain is an extremely likely side effect. There can be a variety of reasons why you suddenly begin to experience back pain after your collision. These include:

Whiplash – Whiplash is used to describe back, shoulder and neck pain that occurs when your head is quickly snapped in one direction, which often happens when you are involved in a sudden impact, or even just when harsh braking is needed.

Herniated or bulging disc – Another common cause of back pain after a car accident is problems with your intervertebral discs. These are the soft, spongy cushions between the bones of your spine that absorb impacts and enable you to bend and twist. A sudden impact may cause a disc to push out of its usual position. This can trigger the person to suffer from intense pain and limited mobility. Alternatively, the disc may become damaged and rupture, causing the gel inside to leak out and irritate the surrounding nerves.

Muscle, ligament and nerve pain – Your back and neck contain an array of muscles, ligaments and nerves. If any of these become damaged during a car accident, it may cause you to experience varying degrees of pain.

Bone fractures and facet join injuries – Bone fractures can occur as a result of a sudden impact. Facet joints are the bony protrusions in the spinal column that prevent over-twisting or over-extension of the spine. These too can become damaged in the course of a vehicle collision.

How can chiropractic care after a car accident help?

Visiting a chiropractor may not be your first consideration when it comes to getting help for your back pain after a car accident. However, an experienced chiropractor can help heal the injuries that you have sustained, as well as working towards preventing any future complications from arising.

The main goal of chiropractic services is to allow your body to heal itself. Unlike medications and surgeries, chiropractic care treats the root cause of the pain and discomfort and offers a permanent solution. Chiropractic adjustments will realign the spine and take the pressure off the affected nerves, thus bringing quick relief. Furthermore, with a proper spine alignment, oxygen and nutrient-rich blood can flow freely to the injury and promote self-healing.

Drug-Free, Non-Invasive Treatment

Chiropractic care does not involve any surgeries or medications to treat your injuries. Thus, preventing you from experiencing any harmful side effects such as nausea, bleeding, allergic reactions, and more.

Prevention of further back pain

The development of scar tissue can cause stiffness and discomfort that leads to chronic back pain. We can focus on areas of healing so that scar tissue is minimal. He/she can also manage your care to help reduce the risk of further back problems developing in the future.

If you are suffering from back pain as a result of being involved in a car accident, our experienced and skilled chiropractic team would be happy to assess your condition and extend our support to you. Please contact our offices today.