Pain after a car accident is common, but there are a number of different types of pain you can experience. Some types of pain are serious and require medical attention. Others can be treated with a little rest at home.
Below, we’ll take a look at some of the common types of pain after a car accident that you can expect and what kind of treatment you may need.
Different types of pain after a car accident
- Neck pain — Neck pain is common after car accidents because collisions cause your neck to jerk back and forth. This sudden jerking motion can stretch and tear the muscles and tendons in your neck, which is painful and limits your range of motion.
Some neck pain is also related to issues in your spine. Many people with neck pain after a car accident suffer from a herniated disc. - Lower back pain — The force of the impact in a motor vehicle accident can cause damage to your spine. Often this kind of force can cause a herniated disc or microfractures in the vertebrae of your spine. In many cases, these injuries require surgery for treatment.
- Knee pain — The knee is a complex joint made up of several muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage. Collisions, especially head-on collisions, can cause knee injuries to any of these parts of the knee.
In some cases, knee injuries can be treated with conservative methods like chiropractic care. In other cases, you may need surgery for treatment. - Head pain — Head injuries occur when your head is directly impacted in an accident or when the collision causes your head and neck to jerk around. A common result of an impact to the head or your head jerking around is your brain hitting the inside of your skull. This is known as a concussion.
Concussions are generally not life-threatening, but they are painful and have several complicating side effects. Treatments for concussions vary on their severity. - Muscle and soft tissue pain — Strains and sprains, which are stretches and tears to the muscles and soft tissue, are common after automobile accidents. Sometimes, all you need is a little rest after a strain or sprain. In other cases, you may need chiropractic care or minimally invasive orthopedic surgery for treatment.
Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute to treat your automobile accident injury
Do you have pain after a recent car accident? You don’t need to live with pain. Our team at the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute can help you recover. Contact our team today to learn more about treating automobile accident injuries or to schedule an initial appointment.
