Back Injuries from Car Accidents

1. Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is a common car accident back injury sustained by car crash victims. Herniated discs are tiny, spongy cushions in the spinal column. They isolate and protect the vertebrae from knocking each other and make the spine flexible.

During a car crash, the impact can damage the disc, causing it to rupture or slip out of its natural position. The herniated disc then exerts pressure on the spinal cord or the surrounding nerves resulting in a back disc injury.

Back disc injury symptoms include:

• Tingling or numbness sensation in the leg
• Weakness in the foot or leg
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Pinched sciatica nerve (lower back pain that radiates down both legs)

Back Disc Injury Treatment

The initial back disk injury treatment is often nonsurgical. It may include:

• Bed rest (1-2 days)
• Physical therapy
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Epidural steroid injection

Most patients will be free of back disc injury symptoms three to four months after a car accident.

You may require surgery (microdiscectomy) if you experience:

• Difficulty walking
• Muscle weakness
• loss of bowel or bladder control

Diagnosis and treatment will vary depending on the back disc injury types sustained.

Can a Chiropractor Help a Bulging Disc?

Yes. Chiropractic treatment offers a practical and all-natural solution for back pain relief. Chiropractors use gentle and safe chiropractic adjustments to correct disc misalignments in the spine and restore spinal discs and vertebrae to their natural position.

2. Fractured Spinal Vertebrae

An abrupt impact on the spine during a car crash causes the spine bones to crack. As a result, the spine’s structure or shape may get altered permanently.

Common vertebrae fracture types include:

• Compression fractures
• Transverse process fractures
• Flexion distraction fractures
• Dislocation fractures

Symptoms of spinal vertebrae fractures include:

• Swelling
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Pain
• Breathing difficulties

3. Whiplash

Whiplash neck and upper back injuries are one of the most reported common back injuries from being rear-ended. It occurs when the human body gets violently jerked backward or forward, causing a back sprain injury or tearing of neck tissues.

Whiplash symptoms include:

• Upper back and neck pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Pinched static nerve
• Dizziness

This injury may lead to lower back pain depending on the damage severity. It’s crucial to go for back sprain injury treatment as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the lower spine areas.

4. Low-Speed Accident Back Injuries

Low-impact car accident back injuries often occur at speeds below ten mph. The human back and neck have soft tissues vulnerable to damage during low-speed collisions. These collisions usually involve sudden jerking motions that can tear or stretch delicate nerves, connective tissues, and back muscles.

Symptoms include:

• Lower back pain
• Burning pain in back
• A pinched nerve in the upper back
• Swelling

5. Spinal Cord Injuries

Any slight damage to the spinal cord can lead to severe lower back injuries. The risk of paralysis depends on where the injury occurs along the spinal cord. For instance, cervical spine injuries may leave the patient paralyzed from the neck and lower back down to the hip.

Ensure you visit the nearest Miami Accident Clinic as soon as you suspect to have spinal cord injuries after a car crash.

How Does Chiropractic Treatment Help Back Injuries?

Chiropractors for lower back injury are skilled at relieving back pain. They combine many chiropractic methods to facilitate lower and upper back pain relief, including:

• Heat therapy
• Cold therapy
• Massage therapy
• Relaxation techniques
• Ultrasounds, etc.

Car Accident Back Injury Settlement

Back injuries from car accidents can have long-term effects on your life and are generally costly to treat. Minor back injuries from car accidents can also grow into further expensive complications. This leads to the obvious question, who is responsible for medical bills after a car accident? It’s usually the at-fault driver.

At Silverman Chiropractic™, we provide the best and most effective back injury treatment    Call 305-676-8525 today to schedule an appointment or to find out more. You may also contact us online.