Busy roads may become the cause of various accidents. You should know that some drivers are skillful and drive carefully while others may drive recklessly and lead to serious accidents. Car accidents may lead to serious consequences such as sprains in the lumbar region or neck injuries. Neck or back pain may be caused by these car accidents. Let’s explain why neck or back pain occurs after a car accident.
What Causes Neck And Back Pain?
Following are major causes of neck and back pain.
Whiplash
The most common car crash injury is whiplash. It occurs due to rapid to and fro movement of the neck and head upon impact. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs due to jerking motion like a whip. This high impact causes damage and tearing to the ligaments, tendons, nerves, muscles, discs, and bones in the cervical region. You should know that whiplash can lead to serious pain in the neck, upper back, and lower back. This may also cause numerous different injuries.
Strains And Sprains
You may have seen that victims of car accidents have to go through serious consequences. They have to face pain in the back, neck, and other parts of the body due to various injuries. Lumber spine strains and sprains are another cause of neck and back pain after a car accident. This may cause the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the lower back to overstretch or tear. These strains and sprains lead to acute lower back pain, muscle spasms, and tightness.
Spinal Disc Damage
You must know that the spine possesses 23 discs. They sit vertebrae and give cushioning and support. Any trauma or car crash may lead to displacement or damage to one or more discs. The common injuries that may occur include bulging discs, herniated discs, or annular tears. A bulging disc is a condition where a disc shifts out of the place. It bulges into the spinal canal. Annular tears may occur due to a crack. This crack forms in the tough outer ring of ligaments of the disc. These annular tears cause pain in the damaged areas. The condition where the inner, jelly-like nucleus of the disc leaks into the spinal canal is called a herniated disc. Hence, spinal disc damages during a car crash can also become the cause of neck and back pain.
Joint Injuries
We know that during a car accident, the high-impact force causes a lot of injuries. You should know that a car crash can seriously injure the facet joints. Facet joints connect the vertebrae in the spine. This injury to facet joints may cause inflammation, low-back pain, or stiffness. Hence, you must know that a car crash can also become the cause of joint injuries that can lead to pain in the neck or back.
Spinal Stenosis
In the field of medicine, the word stenosis means abnormal narrowing of a body channel. In this way, spinal stenosis means narrowing of the bone channel. This bone channel houses the spinal nerves or spinal cord. The most common cause of stenosis is natural aging. It may also be caused by trauma such as a car crash. In such cases, a bone fracture or ruptured disc invades the spinal canal space. It applies pressure to the cord or nerves which ultimately causes pain. We have understood that Sprains in the lumbar region are a major cause of pain in the lower back.
Symptoms And Diagnosis
Victims feel achy and sore after few days of car accidents. You should know that soft tissue injury may cause tightness, back pain, pinching, and muscle spasms. Victims may feel the loss of normal movement and pain. These conditions worsen on lifting any object, bending, or twisting. Nerve injury also known as sciatica may be the cause of a set of symptoms. This causes one-sided pain, tingling, and numbness. The skillful practitioner can diagnose the main causes of back or neck pain by using MRIs or tomography. Doctors may also utilize other tests such as discography to identify the causes of pain. Victims should also consult a radiologist or find a radiologist email list online or spine surgeon to understand the causes of pain.
Treatment
Medication
Different medicines help to treat victims of car accidents. They may include over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen. They can help to relieve pain, inflammation, and swelling. For severe pain, doctors may prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory drugs or muscle relaxants. A corticosteroid injection can help to reduce pain in the case of pinched nerve or inflammation in the spine. Corticosteroid shots are common and they can provide relief for several days.
Heat And Ice
For the first few days, applying ice packs several times a day can help to reduce back and neck pain, inflammation, and swelling. After few days of a car crash, the application of heat can help to soothe and unknot tight and tense muscles.
Physical Therapy
You must know that physical therapy is the best treatment for neck and back pain. Different physical therapists can utilize their skills for treating painful conditions after a car crash. They can help the victims get a normal range of motion, regain strength, and movement in the back or spine after a car crash.
We have described different causes of neck and back pain after a car accident. We have understood that sprains in the lumbar region and tearing of ligaments, tendons, or muscles can be the major cause of pain in the neck and lower back. We have also explained different symptoms, ways to diagnose, and treatment options for these conditions.
