Approximately 30% of all car accident injuries seen in emergency departments involve back strains and spinal injuries.
And, after what seemed like a simple fender bender, many people think they've made it out without any injuries.
But even a small rear-end collision can result in back pain that causes trouble for years on end that isn't noticeable right away.
Here's why you should see a chiropractor after a car accident in Atlanta.
An Atlanta car accident chiropractor should investigate any back pain after a car accident so you can be sure you haven't suffered life-changing injuries.
However, if your pain is the result of whiplash or a minor back injury, there are things you can do to reduce pain while the injury heals.
In the article below, we will discuss how you can take care of your back pain after a car accident.
Table of Contents
- How Long Will My Back Be Sore After A Car Accident?
- Common Back Injuries From Car Accidents
- 4 Ways to Manage Back Pain After a Car Accident
- Seek Chiropractic Care For Your Back Pain
- Contact The Arrowhead Clinic of Atlanta
How Long Will My Back Be Sore After A Car Accident?
Being sore after a car accident is a sign that you may have suffered one or more injuries.
And if you're suffering from things like neck pain or back pain after a car accident, it can be challenging to go about your everyday life.
We use our spine in everyday movements, so it can seem impossible to do most things if our backs are injured.
Sometimes people believe the only way to find relief from their pain is to take ibuprofen or other pain relievers and hope for the best.
But pain relievers are temporary solutions that only mask our pain.
Fortunately, there are several more natural and long-lasting treatments you can seek, such as visiting a car accident chiropractor.
Common Back Injuries From Car Accidents
Before talking about how to treat back pain after a car accident, we'll talk about the types of back injuries you could have.
It's always essential to determine if you are suffering from a severe injury or a minor one so you can be treated accordingly.
If you're suffering from a severe auto accident injury, such as a concussion, broken bones, or internal bleeding, you need to seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.
Below are three common back injuries you can sustain in a car accident that are more serious and debilitating than a simple muscle strain.
Lumbar Sprains
A lumbar sprain is commonly caused by car accidents, but it can also be caused by sports accidents, slip and fall accidents, and lifting accidents.
They occur when trauma stretches the ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the area too much.
In car accidents, lumbar sprains happen when two forces going in different directions suddenly meet.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis can be related to a ruptured disc or a bone fragment in the spinal canal space.
When this happens, pressure is applied to the nerves or the spinal cord, which can be quite painful.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc can cause lingering pain for years after an accident, especially if it isn't treated promptly.
The discs in your spine are made of softer inner fillings and harder cases.
When they rupture, the inner filling spills out and touches nerves, causing pain.
A herniated disc injury may not hurt right away. As soon as it does start to hurt, however, the pain is often very severe.
4 Ways to Manage Back Pain After a Car Accident
There are several things you can do to manage back pain after a car accident.
After you've been evaluated by a chiropractor, give these pain management tips a try to reduce your back pain after a car crash.
1. Ice and Heat
Ice and heat is a simple way to help ease your back pain.
Some people prefer ice, while others prefer heat, but they each serve their own purpose.
After your accident, you can apply ice packs to the injured area 15 minutes at a time to help reduce swelling.
You shouldn't use heat right after the accident because this can increase swelling and bruising.
But using heat will soothe tense muscles that tighten up as time goes on.
2. Use Medications With Caution
Many people injured in car wrecks turn to over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin.
If you decide to go this route and use painkillers, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is the most likely to work.
An NSAID will help reduce the inflammation where your injury has occurred. As the inflammation decreases, there will be more blood flow to allow for faster healing.
But when you take painkillers, you need to be sure to read and abide by the directions and warning labels.
Too many painkillers are dangerous to your health.
Always take note of what day you started using the medication to be sure not to too much.
3. Gentle Exercise
After an accident, you might not want to move at all, but resting too much can make your injury worse.
Gentle exercise can reduce your lower back pain after an accident.
Even a walk around the block a few times a day will help you retain muscle strength and improve blood flow to muscles in the injured region.
You need to retain your muscle strength while you heal, especially around back injuries, because strong muscles will support your spine, reducing long-term back pain.
4. Don't Sit For Too Long
If you've ever dealt with back pain, you've probably figured out that sitting can either cause or make it worse.
This same rule applies if your back has been injured in a car accident.
Don't go for a long car, plane, or train ride too soon after your accident.
If you have a desk job, make it a point to get up and stretch at least every 30 minutes, and it wouldn't hurt to bring a pillow to support your lower back.
You need to be sure to keep your blood flowing, which will help facilitate faster healing.
Seek Chiropractic Care For Your Back Pain
Chiropractic is often considered to be the best solution for lower back pain, neck pain, and other injuries typical in auto accidents.
It helps people who have had their back injured in car accidents in various ways.
With chiropractic, your overall recovery will occur in a faster and safer way compared to the alternatives, such as surgery or opiates.
This is because chiropractors work to heal the source of your pain.
Chiropractic care doesn't include the use of painkillers, so you can rest assured that you are getting better without the risk of addiction or any of the other adverse side effects that come with painkillers.
Contact The Arrowhead Clinic of Atlanta
If you have been in an auto accident and you're suffering from back pain, a visit to the Arrowhead Clinic of Atlanta can treat your back pain and help you make sure it doesn't turn chronic.
The experienced chiropractors at the Arrowhead Clinic can help determine the extent of your injuries so you can start your road to recovery as soon as possible.
Even if you didn't feel any back pain immediately after your accident, it's still important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible so your injuries don't get worse.
To schedule a Free Consultation with the Arrowhead Clinic, click the button below.
