Treatment options for back pain after a car accident

Car accidents happen. It is just a fact of life. Another fact is that sustaining injuries from car accidents can be debilitating and downright scary. If you have been in a car accident recently and have sustained damage to your back, neck or shoulders, you should seek medical attention.

When someone sustains an injury to the musculoskeletal system during an accident, many times they assume that they have whiplash. However, there are so many other injuries that a person can receive in a car accident, and it’s important that they have their injuries checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible as to not risk further injury.

Automobile accident victims will often suffer from two main types of back pain related to their injury: chronic back pain and acute back pain. Luckily, both types of back pain can be helped tremendously through chiropractic and physical rehabilitation treatments.

Acute back pain is normally caused by a sudden jolt that is sustained during the automobile accident. The unexpected jolt can cause trauma to the back, neck and shoulders which often results in sore, stiff muscles, shooting pains in the back, and the inability to stand comfortably or stretch without pain. Acute back pain can be unbearable, but with proper chiropractic care, the pain should get better over time.

Treatment for acute back pain due to a car accident injury will probably include a series of manual adjustments, in which your chiropractor will gently manipulate the affected joints using controlled force. This process will help to improve the patient’s range of motion and the quality of that range of motion. Massage therapy, physical therapy and back specific exercises may also be advised by your chiropractor to help restore full functionality of the back and affected area, to prevent further injury and, of course, to relieve pain.

Chronic back pain is different than acute back pain in that it does not get better over time; rather, it persists through daily life. Unfortunately, without proper treatment, chronic back pain will more than likely worsen over time, which can diminish the accident victim’s quality of life further and further if not treated. One of the most common causes of chronic pain after a vehicle accident is a herniated disc. This happens during the crash when the force knocks the spine out of its proper alignment. Sometimes a disc can compress nerves close to it, which will trigger pain that is normally felt in the lower back, buttocks and legs. Oftentimes, a herniated disc will compress the sciatic nerve in the lower back. This condition, known as sciatica, will cause throbbing pain throughout the lower body that can be so painful that it is numbing.  Since chronic back pain does not usually go away, a patient may need to get periodic treatments for several weeks, months or even years in order to maintain relief from pain.

At the Auto & Work Injury Walk-In Clinic, we offer same-day car accident treatment with a multidisciplinary approach so you can begin your healing process immediately. From chiropractic care to physical rehabilitation and massage therapy, our auto accident doctor will create a custom treatment plan designed with your specific health goals in mind. We work closely with insurance companies and your attorney, providing a referral to an experienced, qualified car accident lawyer if needed.

Have you been injured in a car accident? Our auto injury experts make it easy to get the treatment you need to eliminate pain and restore mobility, and we offer a complimentary case evaluation. Call us today at (210) 615-0400, or request an appointment online.