Have You Suffered From Lower Back Pain Since Your Car Crash?
Lower back pain is one of the most common symptoms reported by car accident victims. This type of pain can be debilitating, making it difficult to participate in daily activities or even to go to work. There can be a lot of different causes for this type of pain, especially following a collision. This post will explore those causes, as well as treatment and recovery options.
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
While some of the pain resulting from a car accident could be due to the impact, lower back pain should not be taken lightly, as it could be indicative of a serious injury, such as:
- Whiplash, which involves damage to the muscles and ligaments in the neck and back caused by the wrenching of these areas upon impact;
- Herniated discs, which occur when the gel-like sacs that cushion each vertebrae become compressed or actually rupture and begin placing pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord;
- Spinal fractures, which can occur if the intense force of a crash causes the bones that make up the spine (vertebrae) to crack; and
- Sprains and strains, which occur when the muscles and ligaments in the lower back become stretched or torn upon impact.
To ensure that back pain isn’t just soreness, car accident victims should seek medical attention as soon as possible after the crash and to provide the treating physician with details about their symptoms.
Symptoms that Accompany Back Pain
Besides back pain, many of those who suffer car accident-related back injuries experience other symptoms, such as:
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs;
- Limited mobility;
- Weakness in the lower back;
- Swelling or bruising;
- Muscle spasms; and
- Difficulty standing.
The sooner back problems can be diagnosed, the sooner a person can start receiving treatment for these symptoms. Delaying treatment and diagnosis, on the other hand, can lead to chronic pain and permanent disability, both of which can impact a person’s ability to work, drive, and even sleep.
Treatment Options for Back Pain
Lower back pain from a car crash can range from mild to severe. The severity of this pain will largely dictate the kinds of treatment that a person requires, although all treatments will focus on reducing pain and increasing mobility. Options include:
- Medication, which can reduce inflammation and ease pain;
- Physical therapy, which helps strengthen the back muscles and increase mobility, while reducing pain;
- Chiropractic care, which uses manual manipulation to improve range of motion and decrease muscle spasms; and
- Surgery to repair fractures, herniated discs, or damaged muscles.
These treatments can be expensive, so it’s important for accident victims to speak with an attorney about their recovery options when their injuries were the result of another driver’s negligence.
Retain a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
To speak with an experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney about your own recovery options following a Florida crash, call Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919. You can also set up a free consultation by reaching out to our legal team via online message.
Sources:
forbes.com/advisor/legal/auto-accident/back-injury-car-accident/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409362/
