Lower Back Pain After a Car Accident

Vertebral bones make up our spinal column, and it includes the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal bones. In between these bones are nerves from the spinal cord exit to supply different parts of the body. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments also attach to these bones. All these work together to provide support to the body, stabilize the spine upon movement, and facilitate smooth movement of the spine.

Although the vertebral column is strong, it’s not enough to protect the back against trauma. In a car collision, the back bears the brunt of the impact as it hits the hard surface.

The extreme force can do damage to the structures of the spine and bruise the muscles. The impact puts unnecessary strain and stress on the tendons and ligaments. The facet joints can also sustain fractures. All of these result in lower back pain. 

For minor back injuries, rest and medications, together with hot and cold packs, can help to minimize lower back pain. Massage also helps loosen up the tight muscles and promote muscle and blood vessel relaxation. Increased blood flow to the lower back structures can help reduce inflammation, which worsens pain.

However, if the back injuries are extensive and the symptoms are aggravating, surgery may be required to repair the herniated or ruptured discs as well as fix the spinal fractures. Your doctor may also order the removal of a herniated disc to relieve the pressure against the nerve and nerve roots.

These procedures are quite costly and cost you anywhere from $15,000 to $170,000, depending upon the extent of your back injury and the symptoms you present. If another person’s negligence caused your accident, the services of a personal injury attorney would greatly benefit you.

Whiplash is a type of neck injury caused by sudden extension and flexion of the neck brought about by vehicular accidents. The collision will cause the head to suddenly and forcefully jerk backward and forward. In the process, it compresses vital structures like the nerves and its nerve roots as well as muscle tendons and ligaments. The abrupt movements also result in abnormal stretching of the neck muscles and cause muscle tears.

It is common for someone who had a whiplash injury after a car accident to also suffer from lower back pain. This is because the spine curves in hyperextension from the sudden collision and causes the structures to compress forcefully and small fractures of the facet joints to develop.

There is a gel-like structure found between the vertebral bodies that protect the spinal column and acts as a shock absorber. This structure is called the intervertebral disc. Not only does it absorb shock, but it also prevents the vertebral bones from rubbing against each other.

When the spinal column hyperextends in response to the collision, the bones compress the intervertebral discs and cause them to bulge out abnormally from their location. The bulging, in turn, compresses the nerves and results to pain a car collision victim typically feels after the accident.

A bulging disc is oftentimes confused with a herniated disc. In bulging discs, there is an abnormal bulging out of the disc from its space. However, when the disc cracks that a small portion of its softer inner structure leaks out, that’s called a herniated disc.