In March 2023 alone, there were over 7000 car accidents across New York City. That’s over 230 a day. And while you may be a great driver, collisions may still occur if those around you are not so skilled. No matter who is at fault, the consequences of car accidents can be significant: the most common car accident back injuries, for example, can leave you in need of medical attention.
Even accidents that seem minor at first glance can result in a back injury that limits your mobility, causes discomfort, or otherwise impacts your daily life. A no fault car accident doctor (that is, a doctor who specializes in car accident injuries) can help you recover more quickly and more fully–often without the need for invasive surgery
When you’ve experienced a no fault car accident, some injuries are easy to see. But this isn’t always the case with a car accident back injury. And this means that making an appointment with a chiropractor or physical therapist can help treat your injury, minimize your pain, and get you back to your everyday life.
Common Types of No Fault Car Accident Back Injury
When you’re involved in a car accident, you can count on a couple of things: a jarring impact and a fast deceleration. Modern cars are designed to provide some cushion from these impacts. However, back injuries can and do still occur. The most common back injuries sustained in car accidents include the following:
- Herniated disc: The jelly-like cushions between each of your vertebrae can rupture or bulge during a car accident. This can leave you with significant back pain as the bone starts to grind against bone. This is often the result of a whiplash injury.
- Spinal stenosis: Inflammation and damage from a car accident can cause the tunnel that houses your spinal cord to narrow. This can lead to significant, long-term pain, especially when left untreated.
- Lumbar sprains and other lumbar injuries: The “lumbar” region of your back is, essentially, just a fancy term for your lower back. During a car accident the muscles and tendons in your lower back can become strained or sprained. Likewise, the vertebrae in your lower back can experience fractures or breaks.
- Muscle strain: As the result of a car accident, the muscles in your back may tighten up significantly. In theory, this happens because your body is trying to protect itself. It may work at the moment, but the result for most people is long-term back pain.
This list of car accident back injury types is not exhaustive. However, any back injury can limit your mobility and cause serious discomfort. Back injuries can prevent you from working or even keep you from enjoying your favorite hobbies or activities.
Some back injury symptoms may be apparent immediately after your car accident. Others may not show up until weeks or months after the fact.
Can No Fault Car Accident Back Injuries be Prevented?
Because they occur as an accident, it’s very difficult to prevent these types of injuries. However, there are a few things you can do to limit your chances of sustaining a serious back injury:
- Obey the rules and regulations of the road, including speed limits.
- Always wear your seatbelt when you are driving.
- Ensure that your vehicle’s safety features are in good working order (this includes seat belts, air bags, blind spot detection, back up cameras, and more).
How Are These Injuries Treated?
If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident of any kind, it’s important to seek out treatment, even if you aren’t feeling any immediate pain. An experienced car accident doctor will be able to help you assess the true extent of any injuries you may have. Assessing your injuries may require a physical exam, X-ray or CT imaging, and more.
The sooner you receive treatment, the more successful any rehabilitation tends to be. If your provider directs you to self care, this could involve using a hot or cold pack, light stretching, or special exercises.
Treatment may include the following:
- Chiropractic care: At Diaspo, chiropractic care will focus on improving the mobilization of the spine. Treatment will emphasize returning a normal range of motion into your back, as well as minimizing pain.
- Physical therapy: After a no fault car accident, physical therapy can help address damage to the muscles, as well as atrophy that may occur due to loss of mobility. Your physical therapist will provide you with treatment designed to improve your range of motion, strength, and flexibility.
In some cases, physical therapy and chiropractic care may be undertaken at the same time as other therapies, such as surgery or medication. Additionally, it’s common for patients to undergo physical therapy and chiropractic care concurrently. For many patients, a combination of chiropractic and physical therapies may help prevent the need for further, more invasive treatment, such as surgery.
Talk to the Injury Experts
At Diaspo, we have decades of experience helping car accident victims overcome pain and injuries. Our goal is always to help patients get back to living the life they love! Car accidents are fairly common, and when they happen, it’s important to seek out care as soon as you can.
The sooner you get care, the more quickly you’ll be able to heal. If you’ve recently been in a car accident or you have lingering injuries, contact Diapso today to schedule a consultation.
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