Back and neck pain can have many causes, such as trauma experienced in an auto accident. Pain may not be related to actual damage to muscle or bone, but by the spine being thrown out of alignment. Back and neck vertebrae protect the nerves that run along the spinal column from damage.

When these vertebrae become misaligned, they may pinch or otherwise irritate the spinal cord nerves. Since these nerves connect the brain to all other nerves in the body, pain may not be localized to the injured area. Common back and neck injuries from auto accidents include:

Whiplash

This neck injury acquired the name from the movement of the head during a front or rear collision auto accident. The sudden impact causes the head to snap forward or backward in a violent motion, like the crack of a whip. Resulting trauma to muscles on the neck and shifting of vertebrae in the neck can lead to neck stiffness and pain or severe headaches. 

Recovery from neck trauma will include rest, and possible use of a neck brace to keep the neck motionless until muscles begin to heal. After muscles heal, an auto accident chiropractic will help to realign neck vertebrae that may have come out of alignment, and ease residual pain that may recur long after recovery.

Back pain

Your body pivots in all directions from the area of your lower back, so it is the part of your back that has the greatest range of motion. With this ability comes the greatest potential for injury. In an auto accident, you are belted securely at the waist, but your shoulder harness allows your upper body to pitch forward. Back trauma may result in any single area or multiple areas of the back. 

When back vertebrae are forcefully shifted, they often become misaligned, leading to irritation or trauma to spinal cord nerves. Supporting back muscles may be strained or torn, rendering them unable to support the vertebrae. This can lead to localized pain from muscle and nerve damage. If trauma occurs in the lower back, it may lead to a condition called sciatica. The sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back to the feet, may become pinched or irritated, causing buttock or leg pain.

Temporary lower back or sciatic pain often resolves itself with rest and pain medication. However, chiropractic care will be useful in ensuring that spinal vertebrae are in proper alignment. This will help to alleviate future episodes of back pain.

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