Neck and Back Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Over 150,000 injuries occur every year in Canada as a result of car accidents. Many accidents lead to neck and back injuries. Immediately following the accident, it’s not uncommon to not feel pain. An hour, several hours or even the next day, people start to experience neck and back pain.

Some injuries cause minor pain that you may ignore and allow to heal on its own, but other injuries can be significant, leading to loss of quality of life or range of motion.

The most common neck and back injuries we see in our office after a car accident are caused by the whipping motion as a result of the impact. Known as whiplash, the injury can occur in the lower back or neck.

Injuries following an accident may include:

1. Lumbar Spine Injuries

The lumbar spine is in the lower back and most often result in sprained injuries. Sprains often result in injuries that are hard to pinpoint without a proper exam. Sudden force can damage the tissues and muscles in the back.

Chiropractors have a proven track record of helping pain be relieved, helping injuries heal, and you’re not laid up in bed for weeks at a time.

2. Disc Herniation

Vertebral discs in the neck and back are spongy structures that protect the vertebrae from hitting each other upon impact. You can think of these discs as shock absorbers that protect the discs in your neck.

The jarring from a car accident can cause these discs to slip or become herniated.

If you’re experiencing pain in the middle of your back after a car accident, chances are, you’re experiencing a disc herniation.

3. Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common neck and back injuries after an accident. Severity levels are wide ranging, including:

• Herniated discs
• Muscle strain
• Ligament injuries
• Tears

Prompt treatment for whiplash will help speed up the healing process and allow you to return to your daily activities as soon as possible. So make sure you reach out to our office ASAP if you have had whiplash.

4. Spinal Stenosis

Car accidents can lead to a painful condition that impacts the lower spine and neck. The injury results in the spine narrowing between the open space of the spine. The narrowing causes pressure on the spinal cord, which can lead to pain, tingling or discomfort in the arms and legs.

This is a nerve-related injury that’s the result of the vertebra being pushed outward and pinching the nerves in the channel.

Injuries can happen in all areas of the spine, including the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Even the sacrum coccyx, or the lowest area of the vertebral column, can be injured in a car accident.

Seeking a diagnosis and proper treatment can reduce the risk of further injury aggravation, pain, discomfort, and loss of mobility. If you have been in a car accident and are suffering make sure you reach out to our office for help.