Back injuries, How to Recognize Them

Your back is an intricate structure of bones, muscles and other tissues that extend from the neck to the pelvis. Back injuries can result from sports accidents, work around the house and yard, or a sudden jolt, such as a car accident. The lower back is the most common site of back injuries causing pain. The most common back injuries include:

• Sprains and strains
• Herniated disc
• Fractured vertebrae

These injuries can cause pain and limit your movements. Treatments vary, but may include medications, bed rest, physical therapy, or surgery. However, you may be able to prevent some back injuries, maintaining a healthy weight, lifting objects with your legs and using lower back support when you sit down.

Types of Back Injuries

Two main types of back injuries include:

– Spondylolisthesis: This is a sliding of the vertebrae that occurs, in most cases, at the base of the spine. Spondylolysis, which is a defect or fracture of one or both parts in the shape of a vertebrae wing, can result in vertebrae sliding backwards, forward, or underneath a bone.

– Radiculopathy: is the damage or disturbance of nerve function that results if one of the nerve roots near the vertebrae is compressed. Damage to the nerve roots can cause pain and loss of sensation in different limbs, depending on where the roots are damaged.

After your accident, you may have experienced strong, moderate or no pain at all. Surprisingly, many car injuries are hidden and are rarely detected for months or even years.

Often, the pain disappears at the beginning, only to return later and with more force.

Soft tissue injuries (injuries to muscles, ligaments and discs) caused by car accidents can be very deceptive, these injuries usually heal leaving scars and do not always cause pain immediately, but the damage done to the spine can cause the following problems:

• Recurrent headaches
• Neck pain and stiffness
• Feeling of numbness, tingling or pain in the arms or hands
• Chronic muscle tension and spasms
• Back pain
• The degeneration of the vertebral disc
• Pain, inflammation of arthritis
• Pain, tense and rigid muscles
• Decreased athletic ability
• Greater likelihood of a new injury
• Bad posture

It is advisable in these cases to seek immediate help even if you do not feel pain, a chiropractic specialist can help you effectively prevent damage to your back.

We invite you to visit our offices, our staff is waiting for you with the best non-invasive treatment.

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