Car accidents and back pain
If a person is involved in a car accident, it is very possible that they will experience sudden pain in the neck or back. Someone’s pain will heal naturally, on its own. Others may require treatment to relieve pain. What may not be obvious is that people involved in a motor vehicle collision may be more likely to have spinal pain in the future. This article looks at car accident spinal injuries, some recent research on the topic, and potential treatment options.
There are several types of motor vehicle collisions. Some are where an unconscious person’s vehicle is struck from behind and they suffer the classic “whiplash” injury to the neck. Others may be where the driver and occupants are aware of an impending impact, prepare but spinal injuries to the neck and back still occur. Regardless of the type of accident, those involved may experience some pain in the spine.
When the human body is subjected to trauma from a car accident, various mechanisms of injury to the spine occur. Let’s analyze what happens at the anatomical level. Ligaments are tough, fibrous tissues that adhere from one bone to another. They allow movement of the bones but should not allow excessive movement. If one imagines a guy wire stabilizing a utility pole, this would be a good analogy to the ligamentous structures of the human body.
In a car accident, the ligaments can sprain. A sprain is simply a tear of fibers. Sprains are a mild tear, a moderate tear, or a severe tear with a completely torn ligament. If the ligaments are damaged, they may not heal with normal tissue, but may partially heal, albeit with weaker scar tissue embedded in the ligamentous structure.
Weak and damaged ligaments allow excessive movement between the bones of the spine, which are also called vertebrae. Excessive movement between two bones is called hypermobility. Hypermobility for months and years causes wear and tear known as spinal degeneration.
On an x-ray, spinal degeneration shows up as bone-on-bone narrowing of the disc spaces and bone spurs. This is a classic and objective sign of degeneration of the spine.
A recent scientific journal, Accident Analysis and Prevention, May 2020 The systematic research review noted that people involved in a motor vehicle collision may be more likely to develop back pain in the future than those who have not been in a car accident.
Chiropractic physicians are trained to effectively evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents. When visiting a chiropractor, the patient can expect to be asked questions about their injuries, pain, and details about the car accident itself. Next, a physical exam will determine if a patient has objective signs such as muscle spasm, limited range of motion of the neck or lower back, and other neuromusculoskeletal tests. Often times, images such as X-rays and MRIs are obtained.
If chiropractic care is determined to be appropriate, the chiropractor will begin the necessary treatment to better help the patient recover from neck and back discomfort. Chiropractic care can make the difference between successful back and neck pain relief and long-term spinal healing for those who develop chronic and painful spinal pain from not receiving proper care.