One of the most common types of injuries in a car accident is back injury. And while some back pains go away with rest, others can develop into an unending discomfort that can result in your inability to perform your daily chores without pain.
Depending on the severity, such injuries can lead to chronic pain that requires costly treatment. Here are common types of back pains that you may suffer following a car accident:
Whiplash
Whiplash is by far the most common type of back injury that you can suffer following a car accident. Unlike other car accident injuries, whiplash injuries tend to be quite common in low-speed rear-end impacts. This type of injury occurs when the neck abruptly and violently jerks forward and backward resulting in a whip-like motion. The results are tears and strains to the muscles and tendons on the neck.
A mild whiplash can go away on its own after taking over-the-counter medications. However, moderate to severe whiplash cases can result in chronic pain and disability.
Degenerative disc disorder
A degenerative spinal disorder is a condition used to describe damage to one or more discs situated between the vertebrae. This too can result in significant back pain and discomfort. While degenerative disc disorder is usually an age-related condition, a traumatic incident like a serious car accident can trigger premature disc degeneration. Health conditions associated with degenerative disc disorder include:
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated
- Degenerative scoliosis
Sprains and muscle strains
Soft tissue that runs through the entire back from the shoulders down to the tailbone can be injured when subjected to abrupt stress. The result can be severe pain and spasms. A strained back muscle, ligament or tendon can take several weeks or even months to treat depending on the severity of the injury. You may feel strong back pain when performing certain activities during the recovery period.
While there are multiple scenarios in which you can hurt your back, getting involved in a car accident is certainly one of the most common causes of back injury. Proving that your back pain directly resulted from the car crash is crucial if you are to recover the compensation you deserve for your injury.
