Car accidents can be scary, whether you’ve never been in a car accident before or not. From fender benders to a major accidents, automobile crashes have a high risk of causing back injuries due to the sudden jerking motion that the body goes through upon impact. It’s not unusual to experience pain immediately following a car accident, in addition to felling delayed back pain days to weeks after the crash occurred.
There are several things that could be causing back pain, from spinal injuries to muscle soreness. The most important part of experiencing back pain after a car accident is taking the right steps to heal and prevent further injury or pain. At RxWellness Spine & Health, we help our patients through their car accident recovery journey, from the initial appointment call all the way through treatment and recuperation.
Call The Police
In the stress and confusion of a car accident it can be difficult to make fast decisions and act–especially if you aren’t sure what to do after an auto accident. In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, file a police report at the scene of the accident and detail everything you can remember. Along with a written or verbal statement, provide any dash camera footage you may have and ask around to see if there were any witnesses to the crash who are willing to provide statements about the accident.
Get auto insurance information from the other driver involved. Even if you aren’t sure what to do or have never been in an accident before, the police will ask you a series of questions about the accident, take your statement, and guide you through any required paperwork.
Handle Any Medical Emergencies
Deal with any immediate trauma or medical emergencies. If you experience back pain immediately after a car accident, you should get checked out by EMTs and go to the emergency room. It can be overwhelming to go through the process of talking to your insurance company, police officers, and preparing for the immediate response needed to get everything sorted out.
You may want to enlist the help of a family member or an attorney to help guide you through the process–especially if you have sustained any immediate injuries and aren’t sure what to do about back pain after a car accident. Focus on doing everything possible to ensure your health and wellbeing, even if that means taking the rest of the day or week to sort through the fine details.
Sort Out Insurance Payments
If you decide to handle sorting out details of the car accident yourself, you will need to speak to your auto and medical insurance providers to determine compensation for injuries, discuss any medical needs and payments, and determine how you will have your damaged vehicle repaired or replaced.
Many individuals who have been injured in car accidents choose to hire an attorney to help guide them through the process of dealing with insurance providers and sorting out medical payments. Speak to an attorney who can help you get things squared away with your car and health insurance–you should not have to pay for most, or any treatment (both immediate and in the time following the accident for physical therapy or chiropractic care) if the other driver was deemed at-fault for the accident.
Take Time For Yourself
Take a break from your normal activities and routine if you are experiencing pain. Instead take the time to think about how your body is feeling. A car accident can be a very scary and sometimes traumatic event to go through, and pain often doesn’t appear until the shock of trauma has worn off. Even if your back pain is mild, you should get checked out by a professional. Back pain can be difficult to diagnose, and even more difficult to treat.
There are a variety of symptoms of car accident injuries. Some of the most common sources of back pain following a car accident include:
- Whiplash
- Lumbar sprains & strains
- Herniated & bulging spinal discs
- Spinal vertebrae
- Degenerative disc disorder
- Pinched nerves
- Bone spurs
- Spinal stenosis
- Sciatica
- Muscle soreness
- Spinal cord injuries
Make An Appointment
If you feel back pain in the days to weeks following the car accident, you should schedule an appointment for an initial assessment with a chiropractor or physical therapist. A chiropractor can help you alleviate your back pain, without the need for surgery or expensive, and potentially addictive medications.
Look at online reviews for local chiropractors and ask family and friends for their advice. Call your local chiropractic clinic or physical therapy office to see when they can fit you in for an appointment, and don’t forget to mention the reason for your visit–experiencing back pain after being involved in a car accident. If you’re local to northern Virginia, make an appointment at one of our local RxWellness Spine & Health clinics.
Keep Track Of Your Pain
Write down or take note of your back pain and how you are feeling, along with any movements or actions that cause the pain to worsen or change. It can be helpful to note which specific actions and motions cause or worsen your pain, since those are the sort of questions a chiropractor will ask during your appointment.
Keep any documents you received about your condition (such as documents from the hospital emergency department after the accident). Provide details of the accident, how you felt then, any changes, how you feel now, and what occurred during the accident to help your doctor give the best advice and treatment.
Take Things Easy
Take it easy on your back and see if you can get reduced physical work if you have a physically rigorous job. Reduce any hobbies or exercise that places strain on your back or causes back pain. Bring all relevant information about the car accident, your pain, and the steps you have taken to reduce pain to your consultation.
Don’t over-exert yourself and rest as much as possible–your doctor will help you create an exercise or movement plan when you are physically able.
Get A Consultation
If you have never visited a chiropractor or physical therapist before, you may not know what to expect. Generally, an initial consultation is to talk about the pain you are experiencing, perform some diagnostic tests, and determine the next steps for treatment.
Use this consultation as an opportunity to speak with your chiropractor or physical therapist about your back pain, including the location of pain, which movements or actions cause it to flare up, along with any other issues you may be experiencing. Your doctors will perform tests and imaging of the affected area, if necessary.
Follow Treatment Advice
Once the test results or x-rays have been taken and your chiropractor or physical therapist has made a diagnosis, follow the instructions that your doctor provides. This means wearing any brace they give you, taking measures not to lift heavy objects or going back to work if it places stress on your back.
Following your personalized treatment plan could also include coming in for chiropractic adjustments or regular physical therapy. Make sure to make time for your health and prioritize getting getter and reducing stress on your back.
Return For Check Ups
Keep performing recommended your treatment plan or actions, such as physical therapy exercises and manual adjustments. Show up for visits so that your body can heal, and your doctor can track your progress. A doctor can’t ensure your body is healing without measuring progress and tweaking treatment to ensure the pain is receding.
Even if you feel fine go to that final appointment and get the all-clear from your doctor. You’ll feel good knowing that you have followed all the steps to get rid of your back pain and can get back to your normal routine.
Take The First Step
At RxWellness, we diagnose the cause of your back pain and provide natural pain relief with the latest chiropractic care and technology. We have experience helping patients that have been involved in car accidents and are familiar with the types of back injuries that individuals typically sustain. If you have more questions about your back or spine pain and want to get your back examined by a specialist, just contact us and we’ll help you schedule your initial consultation.