A sore back after a car accident is common, ranging from minor aches to severe pain. Even a fender-bender can cause back injuries.
In a car accident, the forces involved can injure your spine, muscles, and ligaments. But symptoms may not show up right away. Sometimes, you won’t feel pain until hours, days, or even weeks later.
Delayed pain is often because your body releases adrenaline, which masks the initial pain. But it’s important to get medical attention right away so doctors can diagnose and treat your injury and prevent long-term problems.
Early treatment can help you manage pain and heal faster. Let’s learn more about what may be causing your pain and how to get the help you need.
What Causes Back Pain After a Car Accident?
Car accidents put a lot of stress on your body. Here’s how back injuries happen:
The Mechanics of Injury
When a car crashes, the laws of physics (Newton’s Laws of Motion) are in full effect. All that sudden accelerating, decelerating, and changing direction puts enormous stress on your musculoskeletal system.
The impact can force your spine to move beyond its normal range, which can cause sprains, strains, and other injuries. Soft tissues like muscles and ligaments can be stretched and torn from the sudden impact.
Common Injury Mechanisms
Here are some of the most common ways people hurt their backs in car wrecks:
Muscle Sprains and Strains
Muscles and ligaments can be overstretched or torn by the sudden jolts and impacts of a car accident.
Whiplash
Although whiplash is a neck injury, the sudden back-and-forth motion can also affect your upper back. Whiplash can lead to pain, stiffness, and headaches.
Direct Impact
If you hit the steering wheel, dashboard, or something else inside the car, you can experience direct trauma to your back.
Where on your spine will you hurt?
Your spine has three main sections: your cervical spine (neck), your thoracic spine (mid-back), and your lumbar spine (lower back). A car accident can affect any or all of them.
- Cervical spine: Whiplash and neck pain are common in car accidents. The injuries can cause headaches, dizziness, and reduced mobility.
- Thoracic spine: This area is less frequently injured, but it can still sustain fractures or muscle strains. You’ll feel pain in your mid-back or chest.
- Lumbar spine: Because your lower back supports your weight and absorbs impact, it’s the area that’s injured most often. Expect lower back pain, sciatica, and even disc injuries.
What does a back injury feel like?
The symptoms you experience after a car accident will depend on the type and severity of your back injury. Some people feel intense pain right away, while others have symptoms that are delayed or just plain subtle.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of a back injury after a car crash:
- Muscle spasms
- Burning pain
- Stiffness
- Sharp or stabbing pain
- Pain or discomfort when you move
- Tingling or numbness in your back, legs, or feet
Here are some other symptoms you might experience:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Limited range of motion
Types of Common Back Injuries from a Car Accident
A car accident can cause a wide range of back injuries, from mild to severe. Here are some of the most common:
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissues are the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your back. These can easily be injured in a car accident.
Back Sprains and Strains
Back sprains affect ligaments (the tissues connecting bones), while strains affect muscles or tendons (the tissues connecting muscles to bones). They often happen due to sudden stretching or twisting during the impact. The good news is, recovery is usually within 1-2 weeks.
Disc Injuries
The discs between your vertebrae cushion your spine. These can also be damaged in an accident.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in the outer layer. This can press on nearby nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness. Herniated disc pain can stick around for 2-6 weeks, or even longer in some cases.
Bulging Disc
A bulging disc is similar to a herniated disc, but the outer layer isn’t torn. The disc simply extends beyond its normal space. Sometimes, a bulging disc causes no symptoms at all.
Discogenic Pain
This is pain that originates directly from damage to the intervertebral disc itself. It can be difficult to diagnose.
Bone and Joint Injuries
The bones and joints in your spine can also be injured in a car crash.
Lumbar or Thoracic Vertebrae Fractures
These are breaks in the bones of the spine. They can range from minor hairline fractures to severe, unstable fractures that require surgery. Obviously, these are serious and require immediate medical attention.
Facet Joint Injuries
The facet joints are small joints located between the vertebrae. Damage to these joints can cause pain and stiffness in the back and neck.
Spondylolisthesis
This is a condition where one vertebra slips forward over another. It can cause lower back pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms.
Other Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spinal cord is a devastating injury. It can result in loss of sensation, movement, and even bowel/bladder control. Car accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries – accounting for 38% of them, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.
Degenerative Spinal Disorders
If you already have a pre-existing condition like arthritis, the trauma of a car accident can make it much worse.
How long will my back hurt after a car accident?
That depends on the type and severity of your injury, as well as your own individual health status. Your age, general health, and how closely you follow your doctor’s treatment plan can all affect the amount of time it takes for you to recover.
Generally, acute pain lasts a few days to a few weeks. Whiplash, for example, may start to feel better within days, but it could take up to three months for you to completely recover.
If your pain lasts longer than three months, it’s considered chronic. Many cases of chronic back pain are due to injuries that were left untreated.
What to do after a car accident if you have back pain
Here’s what you should do if you’re experiencing back pain after a car wreck:
- Get medical attention right away. Even if your pain seems minor, it’s vital to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan from a doctor. Don’t delay!
- Document everything. Take pictures of the accident site and any visible injuries. Keep meticulous records of all medical appointments, treatments, and related expenses.
- Notify your insurance company. Be sure to tell them about your back pain! This is essential for potential compensation. Keep in mind, if you’re in Florida, you generally only have 14 days to file a claim under your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance.
- Follow your doctor’s orders. Stick to the prescribed treatment and rehabilitation plan.
- Talk to a lawyer. An attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options.
Treatment for Back Pain After an Accident
If you have back pain after a car accident, there are many different treatment options available.
Medical Interventions
Depending on the type and severity of your injury, a doctor may recommend one or more of the following medical treatments:
- Diagnostic testing: X-rays, MRIs, electromyography (EMG), and EP testing can help pinpoint the source of back pain.
- Medications: Pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs can help with pain and inflammation.
- Physical therapy: Specific exercises and stretches can help strengthen your back muscles, improve flexibility, and reduce pain.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and pain. Trigger point injections (with local anesthetic, Botox, or a corticosteroid) can treat muscle pain.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery is necessary to repair damaged discs, bones, or nerves.
Alternative Therapies
Some people find relief from back pain with alternative therapies, such as:
- Chiropractic care: Spinal manipulation and other techniques to improve spinal alignment and reduce pain.
- Acupuncture: Fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body to relieve pain and help the body heal.
- Massage therapy: Massage can help relax muscles, reduce pain, and improve circulation.
What can I do at home to help my back heal?
After a car accident, you can take these steps to encourage healing:
- Rest. Avoid any activities that make your pain worse. Scale back your physical activity and exercise for a couple of weeks.
- Ice and heat. Apply ice to reduce swelling and inflammation during the first few days after the accident. After that, switch to heat to relax your muscles. A cold compress for 15 minutes or so can help with swelling.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers. These can help you manage pain and inflammation.
- Gentle exercise. Light stretching and walking can improve your circulation and prevent stiffness.
- Proper posture. Pay attention to your posture when you’re sitting, standing, and sleeping. Sleeping in a curled-up position with a pillow between your knees may help.
What happens if a back injury goes untreated?
Letting a back injury go without treatment can lead to chronic pain, nerve damage, and even disability.
If your back pain lasts for more than three months, it’s considered “chronic.”
Potential complications include:
- Loss of mobility
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty performing daily activities
- Depression and anxiety
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent these long-term problems.
In closing
Back pain after a car accident is serious and should be checked out by a doctor right away. Even if the pain doesn’t seem that bad, it’s still important to be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
Knowing the different reasons why your back might hurt, what the symptoms are, and what your treatment options are can help you take charge of your healing.
The sooner you get help, the better your chances of avoiding long-term problems and getting back to your usual activities without pain. Following a comprehensive treatment plan is also critical for recovery.