Acute Vs Chronic Back Pain
Lower back injuries affect the five vertebrae in the lumbar region. Like other parts of the spine , it contains intervertebral discs ligaments and tendons that attach the muscles to the spine and nerve pairs that control the abdomen, legs, bowel, bladder, and other body parts.
- Acute back pain lasts for a short time, about a few days to a few weeks. Most low back pain is acute.
- Chronic back pain is defined as pain that lasts for three months or longer, even after the initial injury or cause of the acute low back pain has been treated.
Around 20% of people affected by an acute low back injury develop chronic low back pain with persistent symptoms. Even though the pain lingers, there may not be an identifiable cause despite medical treatment.
Treatment For Muscle Aches And Pain After A Car Accident
Advanced Deep Tissue Laser Therapy – The laser therapy used at Art of Health Chiropractic is the most powerful in any Nashville Chiropractic office.
Laser therapy works to reduce swelling and inflammation and to help the damaged muscle heal more quickly.
Therapeutic Exercises – Rehabilitation of the damaged muscles is managed by treating in three phases – restoring motion, restoring endurance, and restoring strength.
Even though muscle pain is something that seems like will “just go away” a muscle that is not correctly rehabilitated can cause more problems in the future.
When muscle begins to start healing, scar tissue is laid down in the areas that were damaged. The scar tissue that fills in the areas is just like the scar tissue on the outside of your body. If you have an old scar on your body, you can see that it does not line up the same way the skin does and can have an irregular shape. If the scar tissue does this in the muscles, it sets those areas in the muscle up for failure down the road.
Restoring motion in damaged muscles consists of very simple range of motion exercises that you will perform with the doctor. As you move in a pain free area, the newly forming scar tissue begins to line up along the same lines of stress as your muscles.
Increasing the endurance of the damaged muscle is accomplished by adding repetitions to your movements and training the muscle groups in the ways that they will be used by you in your day to day life.
Motor Vehicle Accidents Can Cause Internal Bleeding
In an accident, the sudden deceleration of a moving vehicle causes the body to move violently forward against the lap restraint of a seat belt. The force of this impact is enough to cause internal organs and major blood vessels like the aorta and vena cava to be cut or torn.
Abdominal organs bleed profusely when ruptured, and gastrointestinal organs like the bowel can empty their contents into the abdominal cavity. These are life-threatening injuries, and the hemorrhaging and systemic infection they cause are the most common causes of death from abdominal trauma.
What are the signs and symptoms of internal bleeding?
Unfortunately, the extent of the injury may not be readily apparent in the first few hours after an accident. Its important to know the symptoms so theyre not dismissed.
Symptoms of internal bleeding include:
- Headache
After a car accident, the full extent of your injuries is rarely ever apparent. Often, abdominal pain doesnt start until hours after the accident, sometimes days. By then, the injury may have worsened to the point it becomes life threatening. For this reason, its critical to see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident, even if you dont think youve been seriously injured.
NEVER ignore abdominal pain or discomfort even if it appears days later
If youve been in an accident, dont take the wait and see approach. See a doctoreven if you think theres nothing wrong. The risks of waiting are just too high.
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Diagnosing Lower Back Pain From Car Accident
With so many injuries possible, and with many sharing symptoms, it is important to correctly identify your specific injury. Many car accident injuries can be identified through medical imaging such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
That said, if you are experiencing lower back pain after a car accident, make an appointment with your physician to determine the best action plan.
The expenses of dealing with injuries after a car crash could be substantial with the high cost of medical diagnosis and treatments for back and neck pain because it involves seeking the help of medical specialists.
That is why it is important to consult an experienced car accident attorney who knows how to review insurance policies to see if there are additional financial resources available to cover future medical bills.
The Average Settlement Covers All Types Of Losses After A Car Crash
For many people, injuries like whiplash are temporary conditions. However, motor vehicle accidents are all different, so some injured people may need more time and intensive medical treatment to recover . If a seemingly minor car accident has disrupted your life and caused you extensive pain and suffering, you may be able to collect financial compensation to cover your crash-related expenses.
Depending on your unique circumstances, you may be compensated for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
If the insurance adjuster or someone else is telling you that your claim isnt worth much because the crash wasnt that bad, dont believe them.
Compensation is based on how the car crash affects your life. Our law firm has decades of experience handling all types of car accident claims, so we know how devastating even low speed fender benders can be.
For many people, injuries like whiplash are temporary conditions. However, motor vehicle accidents are all different, so some injured people may need more time and intensive medical treatment to recover .
If a seemingly minor car accident has disrupted your life and caused you extensive pain and suffering, you may be able to collect financial compensation to cover your crash-related expenses.
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Back Pain From A Car Accident
Car accidents are among the leading causes of back pain. Usually, it is obvious whether a victims back was injured, but this is not always the case. Back pain resulting from a motor vehicle accident may not occur for days after the accident or longer.
If you have any sort of back pain after an auto accident, it could be a spinal cord injury. We advise you to visit a spine doctor as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis. Not only will an examination set you up for proper treatment, but it is necessary if you are considering legal action against the at-fault driver.
Common Back Injuries from Car Accidents
The type of back injury a patient incurs depends on the type of crash they are involved in. A seatbelt may save the life of an automobile accident victim but can also contribute to a back injury. The most common types of back injuries resulting from car accidents include:
Fractures-
Car accidents often cause lower and middle back compression fractures. A seat belt holds the lower portion of the body firm while the upper part is thrown forward violently, resulting in broken vertebrae. The pain is severe.
Herniated Disc-
The force of a car accident can cause a disc to herniate. The role of a disc is absorbing spinal impact, so the impact can cause the gel-like center of a disc to exit through any cracks in the hard outer part. The herniated material comes into contact and irritates the nearby nerves. Symptoms can include pain in the leg or arm.
Soft Tissue Injuries-
What Should You Expect Physically And Mentally After Being In An Accident
Its not unusual to have psychological symptoms after a car accident. Most experience shock symptoms ranging from dilated pupils to nausea. If youre diagnosed with this condition at the accident scene, you may be taken to the hospital for treatment.
You may feel overwhelmed by what happened at the accident scene and by the emotional, physical, and legal consequences. Anxiety is typical, and depression can set in. Some people even develop post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident.
These are serious conditions that shouldnt be dismissed. Seek help if youre experiencing any symptoms of anxiety, depression, or PTSD. You may also experience some physical symptoms after a car accident, and some dont show up right away. But even these delayed symptoms need to be taken very seriously.
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Why Can Pain Take Time To Show Up After An Injury
Sometimes I get emails that beg to be answered via a posted article so that everyone can learn something . The question below was sent to me by an individual who will remain anonymous. Understand that what she is going through is happening all over the country, all day, every day. In fact, I see similar scenarios so often, I would almost call this the norm.
Hello Jane, There are several points here that need to be addressed, and I will attempt to tackle them one by one. Also bear in mind that while this is being written in regard to your question, not everything here is going to pertain specifically to you.
The first thing I want my readers to understand is that when it comes to Workmans Comp, they are never your friend. Not sure what state you live in, but its important to be aware that some are much worse than others. By the way, the same phenomenon you are going through occurs thousands upon thousands of times a day with INJURIES CAUSED BY MVAS.
Because of the way our insurance system is set up, in order to treat people, there has to be a working diagnosis. Unfortunately, these diagnosis are frequently wrong . Why? Because so many health problems dont show up on tests the way we have always been taught . For instance, you can imagine how big a deal it is that the single most pain-sensitive tissue in the body does not image well with standard advanced imaging techniques such as MRI .
But we still have not answered the main question
When Should I See A Doctor As A Result Of Whiplash
Most cases of whiplash, while potentially painful, will heal on their own. However, if youre experiencing any of the following symptoms for an extended period of time, you should see a spinal specialist:
- Symptoms spread to the shoulders or arms
- Moving your head is exceptionally painful and not getting better with time
- You feel a bulge in your neck
- You have numbness or weakness in your arms
Often, these types of symptoms are indicative of a more serious problem with the spinal structure itself, likely a herniated disc that is pressing up against the nerve roots that exit your spine. It could also be an indication of damage to the vertebrae itself or the tendon or ligament structures that are connected to the bones.
Regardless of whether or not you are experiencing these more serious symptoms of whiplash, you should always see your spinal specialist after experiencing any kind of trauma to the head or neck that is causing you prolonged discomfort or pain.
Oftentimes, we are not the best judges of our pain and far too often we assume that problems will simply go away on their own. While this is true in most cases, there are instances where medical attention is required and it is always far better to receive that attention as early as possible to avoid any permanent damage.
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What Causes Delayed Back Pain After A Car Accident
The human body is complicated. No two injuries are exactly alike, but we can help explain why you experienced your delayed back pain after your car accident.
The first reason this can happen is the human bodys natural Fight or Flight Response. During such a stressful event as a car wreck, your body will release adrenaline into your bloodstream to help you fight the situation. Because that extra adrenaline pumps through your veins for the first few hours, you have a higher pain tolerance and might not notice the injury. Its not until that adrenaline drops back to normal levels that you feel your back and neck injuries.
The second reason for delayed back pain is physical. It can take hours for external symptoms such as bruising or swelling to appear and for the discomfort of inflammation to set in. Its only after you realize you have these symptoms that you begin to realize that you associate your delayed pain with a back or neck injury from your car accident.
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Pro Tip: Record As Many Details As You Can
Its of utmost importance that you can record as many details as is possible, by writing down information, taking pictures and video recording the scene. Depending on the severity of the accident, doing this may not be possible and youll have to rely on information from witnesses.
In addition to recording your own information, its also important to file a police report as this may be required by your insurance company.
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What To Do If Youre Experiencing Lower Back Pain After A Car Accident
Remember, before taking any additional steps, be sure to see a doctor if you suspect theres even a chance that youve sustained a back injury resulting from an auto collision. Getting the proper treatment sooner rather than later is key to optimizing your prognosis.
Back injuries sustained after car accidents tend to get worse when they arent addressed. You should also seek medical attention if youre experiencing any related symptoms, such as headaches, neck pain, or abdominal pain.
Getting a proper diagnosis after a car accident is also crucial if you wish to pursue legal action. As long as you havent signed a release of liability form , you may still be entitled to compensation. An accurate diagnosis confirming your injuries will help you build a stronger personal injury case.
Even if your lower back pain after a car accident is relatively minor , its a good idea to contact a personal injury attorney once youve addressed your medical needs. Theyll assess your case, helping you better understand your options. Theyll also make sure you dont take any steps that would cause you to waive your rights to compensation.
Dont Settle Immediately And Get Help With Your Case
After going through an automobile, truck, or motorcycle accident, its understandable to want to move on with your life quickly. But even so, you shouldnt accept a settlement from an insurance company right away without talking to a lawyer first. Insurance companies dont make money by handing out generous settlements they make their profit by limiting them.
Will it be enough to cover all your medical treatment, for as long as needed? What about lost wages? Pain and suffering? The only way to make sure you get the compensation you need is to get the advice of a good lawyer, like the Oklahoma car accident attorneys at McIntyre Law.
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Whiplash Down The Spine
Diagnosis: Whiplash can happen in the lower back when the ligaments, muscles and tendons further down the spine are suddenly stretched beyond what theyre used to, or even capable of. Lower back whiplash is common after car crashes.
Symptoms: Numbness, muscle spasms, cramps, tingling
Severity: From manageable pain to severe
Recovery tips: Apply heat and ice, physical therapy, stretching
Recovery timeline: Whiplash is one of the most common injuries and reasons for neck and back pain after car accidents ranging from mild to chronic pain.
We get asked the question, How long do muscle spasms last after a car accident? Muscle spasms can last up to two weeks, though if they last longer, we encourage you to consult your doctor. Though many cases of whiplash last a few weeks, it has also been known to persist from months to even years.
Potential complications Whiplash causes lower back and middle to upper back injuries. Whiplash can also result in traumatic brain injuries such as diffuse axonal injuries, memory issues, and chronic pain. Its important to see a doctor after a car accident.
Common Causes Of Neck And Lower Back Pain After A Car Accident
Due to the fact that neck and lower back pain injuries are not as clearly visible as other injuries, such as broken bones, victims often do not know what is causing their pain after a car accident. This is why it is crucial to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
The most common causes of neck and lower back pain after a crash include:
All of these injuries are not only extremely painful, but they take a long time to recover from. Meanwhile, accident victims usually cannot return to work right away and face mounting medical bills due to the treatment they have received. This is why if you have suffered a neck or lower back injury in a car accident, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible to understand your right to compensation.
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Whats Causing My Back Or Neck Pain After My Car Accident
There are a number of painful conditions that can arise from a car accident, but they commonly stem from muscle strains or tears that occur when the head is violently thrown forward and backward commonly known as whiplash.
Though relatively uncommon, its also possible to sustain injury to the spinal discs, facet joints, bone structure as as result of this motion and depending on the severity of the accident.
Well discuss each of these potential causes for pain in detail below:
