Most Common Back and Neck Injuries Caused By Car Accidents

Many people question whether medical treatment is necessary after a car accident. Some people do not feel any pain after such an incident, while others may feel minor pain that they attribute to simple muscle strain. However, it is possible to sustain injuries in even a low-impact car accident that are progressive, meaning they worsen with time. This means that no pain or minimal pain does not indicate the lack of a potentially serious injury.

It is important to keep in mind that the extent of damage to your vehicle and the speed you were going are not good indicators of the injuries you could have. Even a minor accident can result in injury to the neck and back. According to Autoinsurance.org, whiplash is the second leading cause of auto insurance claims, and back injuries are the third, the first being fender benders.

Common Neck Injuries

Whiplash is a highly common auto accident injury. It is characterized by injury to the soft tissues of the neck, including muscles, ligaments and tendons and occurs when the neck is forced to move beyond its normal range of motion. Even a slight jolt of the neck can result in whiplash. Emedicinehealth.com reports that accidents occurring at speeds as low as 15 miles per hour can cause whiplash.

Minor whiplash can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication, ice and rest within the first 24 hours, then heat therapy and gradual re-mobilization. Severe cases of whiplash will require physical therapy to slowly and cautiously rebuild neck strength and flexibility.

A more serious injury may occur to the neck during a car accident involving spinal discs. The neck is supported by a segment of the spine called the cervical spine. Spinal discs sit between vertebrae and act as shock absorbers. They are comprised of a soft gel in the center surrounded by a tough exterior ring. The forces sustained during a car accident may be sufficient to damage spinal discs. This can result in a bulging or herniated disc, in which the internal fluids are either pushed to one side of the disc or leak out of a tear in the exterior ring.

Bulging or herniated discs in the neck can result in a condition known as cervical radiculopathy, characterized by the compression of nerves exiting the spinal cord. Cervical radiculopathy causes pain, weakness, tingling and numbness along the nerve pathway, often down into the arms. Nerves from the cervical spine also extend to the face and control the functioning of the senses. If not treated, permanent nerve damage can occur. This condition can take months to manifest. If any abnormalities in the neck, shoulders, arms or senses develop following an accident, it should be taken as a sign that a progressive neck injury was incurred and that medical attention is absolutely necessary. Physical therapy and spinal decompression treatments may be able to heal damaged discs.

Common Back Injuries

The muscles that support the spine are designed to activate prior to their anticipated use; this preemptive activation prepares them to perform work and stabilize the spine. The suddenness of an accident does not allow these muscles to activate before they are thrown into use. This can lead to soft tissue injuries (similar to whiplash in the neck) and spinal disc injuries throughout the back.

Soft tissue injuries may be treatable by a brief period of ice and rest combined with anti-inflammatory medication followed by heat treatment and a gradual return to activity. If pain persists beyond this, physical therapy may be required to restore strength and flexibility to the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the back.

The thoracic spine in the middle of the back and the lumbar spine in the lower back are susceptible to disc damage just like the cervical spine. If a disc in the thoracic or lumbar segments is bulging or herniated, nerve impingement can occur. At the thoracic level, effects may be felt throughout the upper and mid body. This includes organs as well. Lumbar disc damage can affect the sciatic nerves, which run down to the foot on each side. It can also result in abnormal function of the bowels, bladder and sexual organs.

Since all of the body's physical functions can be traced back to nerves in the spinal cord, nearly any abnormality following an accident should be approached as a possible injury stemming from it. No matter how minor the accident may have been, it is important to take it seriously. Monitor yourself closely for any symptoms for months following an accident and, if anything abnormal occurs, don't hesitate to make an appointment with a doctor. Any pain felt immediately after an accident should be treated under medical supervision right away. More serious injuries to the head and brain can occur in a car accident as well. A good rule of thumb is: When in doubt, get checked out.

Taking Out the Pain With Cervical Spine Surgery

Cervical spine surgery will get rid of that pain, that numbness, that tingle which is accompanied by a weakness that even writing is impossible. However, before going further, it is best to know what the surgery is for.

When talking about the spinal column, there is that area just at the nape of the neck where the head is directly attached and where the head can pivot. Those small bones are called the cervical vertebrae. These encase the very root of the spinal column, meaning, anything untoward happens to those bones will not only directly affect the head and neck area, but the entire body. This is the mother source so to speak. So if there is anything that can cause damage to it, if it is severe enough, a cervical spine surgery will have to be performed.

The succeeding vertebrae control the areas in the body lower than the cervical. The thoracic from the trunk down, the lumbar from the waist down and the sacral, from the pelvic down. Whatever may cause damage, be it a herniation or arthritis, if the condition worsens to the point where the patient is immobilized then a cervical spine surgery would be called for.

Usually, when there are symptoms that point to a spinal problem, the obvious treatments would involve pain and inflammation medications, just like those in bulging disc treatment. However, if all fails, the cervical spine surgery can be performed which may entail invasion with a scalpel. Now in the past, the invasion was massive and the treatment was worse than the condition itself, now there are newer techniques which call for lesser invasion with minimal blood loss and less recovery time.

Arthritis, trauma to the spine as well as others can cause damage to the vertebrae and sometimes the damage will press on the bundle of nerves which are the central pathways to the brain and out. There are obvious risks involved in any surgery and the least of which can be loss of voice. Also, infection as well as blood loss can also happen. However, this is true for any type of surgery, be it a minor or a major one.

Taking risks with a cervical spine surgery is actually less of a risk when it comes to eventual paralysis, and weighing the pros and cons can reveal that the pros outweigh the risks and will lead to a cure rather than just a relief from the symptoms.

Oh My Aching Back!

Like humans, our canine friends can suffer back pain. It is especially prevalent in small breeds like Dachshund and Lhasa apso, but bigger breeds like German Shepherds and Great Danes can also suffer. Additionally, dogs that are overweight are more likely to have back problems than their leaner counterparts.

Some back injuries involve nothing more than sore muscles. However, for others, disc injury or degenerative disc disease may be the problem. This can cause extreme pain, lost muscle control, nerve damage and paralysis.

Like man's, a dog's spine is made up of small bones called vertebrae. They run from the base of the skull to the end of the tail. Flexible discs made of cartilage provide a cushion between each vertebra. Above the discs and running through the vertebrae is the spinal cord made up of nerve fibers. A disc can weaken with age or trauma, causing a portion of the disc to be pushed out of place, putting pressure on the spinal column.

A dog that has suffered a disc injury will exhibit symptoms such as: yelping when handled, lethargy, shivering, whimpering, poor appetite, inability to urinate, clumsiness, reluctance to climb steps,
walking "drunk", unable to move, or paralysis of back legs.

To tell the difference between a simple sore muscle and disc injury, check your pet's "placing response." While supporting him with one hand under his belly, flip one of his hind feet so that the top of his paw is touching the ground. He should quickly place the foot right side up when you let go. If he doesn't, he could have nerve problems. Even if he passes the test, if pain lasts more than a day or two, consult your vet. Nerve problems don't always show up right away.

Your vet will perform diagnostic tests to differentiate disc disease from other illnesses that may cause similar symptoms. A neurological assessment could include applying gentle pressure to the spine to localize the pain. He may check to see if only the back legs are affected, or also the front legs and head. A test the toes of the back legs indicates reflex responses and indicators of pain. He may also x-ray your dog's spine, or obtain a myelogram or CT scan.

Treatment will depend on the severity of the clinical findings. Dogs with milder injuries may be treated with cortisone injections, steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and rest. This helps shrink the herniated disc and swollen tissue and at the same time relieves inflammation that has occurred within the spinal cord. Pain medication may also be prescribed.

Surgical treatment may be recommended if the signs are severe and do not respond to other management trials.

Whether medical, surgical or a combination of the two treatments is used, it may be several weeks before your dog recovers fully. Crate care may be recommended for at least four weeks when undergoing treatment. Rest is essential to allow the disc material to "scar over". Early return to activity may worsen your dog's condition. Don't let him run around the yard or go for long walks.

Don't be fooled by what appears to be a fast return to normal behavior. Dogs treated with cortisone injections and steroid treatment, may be relieved of their pain, but the injury is still present and caution must be observed.

Don't allow your dog to jump up or down from objects such as the bed or the groomer's table.

When lifting your pet, never use the front legs. Instead, use both hands, supporting him from underneath the rib cage and the back legs.

When walking your dog, use a chest harness instead of attaching a leash directly to the collar. Any jerking motion or sudden movement of the head can cause pain and reinjury.

Use a glucosamine and chrondoitin supplement to help speed recovery and strengthen damaged cartilage.

Help your pet keep his weight down. Check by lightly running your hands over his ribcage. If you can count each rib, he's at a good weight. If all you feel is padding, it's time to try a sensible weight-loss plan.

90% of all disc problems can be successfully treated with conservative medical management. Don't hesitate to get your dog to the vet if you suspect a back injury.

Questions and Answers on Pain Management Medical Treatment After A Car Accident

I was in an auto accident recently and I am having pain. What should I do?

In the United States each year there are over 6 million car accidents resulting in 3 million injured people. Whiplash and back pain are tops on the list for suffering.

The first thing is if the accident just happened and you are having immense pain, the emergency room is where you should be. They can rule out fractures and immediate serious concerns that need attention. Any significant pain should be checked out, especially when considering that as soon as the adrenaline wears off the pain will intensify.

If however it's been a few days to a few weeks and you have lingering pain, then it is a good idea to seek treatment from a medical provider such as a pain management physician, chiropractor, or potentially to start with, your primary care doctor.

Should I seek an attorney to help me after a car accident?

With regards to your own auto insurance company, you may have a great warm and fuzzy relationship. They may insure your auto, life, company, and you may know them personally. Get into an auto accident, however, and you probably will not enjoy the warm fuzzies with the insurance company of the person who hit you. You will be asking them for money, and their bottom line depends on keeping it. They may push you into trying to settle prematurely prior to completion of treatment. Don't fall for this.

Seeking an attorney sooner rather than later ensures your best chance of being treated fairly. The Yellow Pages isn't always the greatest way to find a Personal Injury attorney, and bigger law firms aren't always better. The medical practice providing pain management treatment may be able to recommend a seasoned attorney. They probably have considerable experience knowing which attorneys are helpful, fair, and results oriented for their client, which is you!

Should I use my health insurance for treatment if I was a victim in a car accident?

Typically the answer is yes. Using your health insurance for medical treatment in a personal injury case can mean a larger settlement at the end of the case for you. If you have no medical insurance there are pain management centers that will treat you under a personal injury lien with no out of pocket expenses. It just means all of the medical treatments go under that lien and when settlement time comes less monies for you. If your health insurance has covered a significant portion of the treatment, there will end up being more money in your pocket.

What kind of medical treatments have been shown to help for neck and back pain after a car accident?

Considering that 10% of whiplash pain and low back pain become chronic and cause considerable disability, it is in one's best interest to receive pain treatment as soon as possible. Quicker treatment may mean quicker recovery.

For acute neck and low back pain, chiropractic treatment has been shown in numerous studies to alleviate pain and improve patient function. Patients get back to work quicker, and may avoid the problem of chronic pain.

One of the main issues after a whiplash or low back injury is damage to the small joints of the spine called the facet joints. Chiropractic treatment and physical therapy may help diminish the pain, but facet related pain may persist. Pain doctors can perform facet injections into the painful joints, which may relieve pain for many months.

If necessary, the pain doctor may then perform a technologically advanced outpatient procedure called Radiofrequency Ablation, which heats up the painful joints and can relieve pain for one to two years.

There are very effective treatment options if you have been in a car accident. Seeking medical care sooner rather than later may end up preventing the onset of chronic pain, so don't wait!

Degenerative Disc Disease - Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Can Help

Millions of Americans suffer from severe back and neck pain as a result Degenerative Disc Disease. DDD as it is often referred to in the literature is not really a "disease" in the common sense of the word, but rather a term used to describe a process or condition that develops gradually and worsens over time. Use of this term indicates that the cartilage-like discs between the spinal vertebral joints are the primary cause of the symptoms, and that the degenerative changes are rather advanced. To some degree intervertebral discs lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing characteristics as we age as do the other tissues in the body. Abnormal or excessive mechanical stresses or injuries of the past coupled with hereditary, developmental, and metabolic influences can rapidly accelerate this process.

As the involved disc dries out and loses height (a process known as desiccation) it causes the vertebra to become closer together narrowing the channels through which the nerve roots pass. A dry, hard disc can absorb less shock and is thus more easily torn resulting in a greater likelihood of herniation or bulge further compressing or pinching the nerves. As the stress on the joint compounds and osteoarthritis begins to result, bone spurs form and ligaments thicken (hypertrophy) gradually narrowing the nerve channels even further. These factors in various combinations and degrees of severity compromise the space in the nerve channels, a condition known as spinal stenosis (narrowing), and conspire to compress (pinch) the nerves.

Symptoms of Degenerative Disc Disease

The most common symptom of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is low back pain (lumbalgia). If the cervical spine is affected, the most common symptom is neck pain (cervicalgia). When degenerative disc disease causes compression of the cervical nerve roots there may be shoulder pain, arm pain, and pain in the hand/fingers (neuritis, neuralgia, radiculitis), and may be associated with numbness and tingling (paresthesia). When degenerative disc disease causes compression of the lumbar nerve roots there may be butt pain, hip pain, leg pain, and pain in the foot/toes. This often is accompanied by muscle weakness in either the arm or leg.

Spinal Decompression Treatment

In the past, a patient suffering from disc problems was usually given pain medications or injections, instructed to refrain from physical activities, referred for physical therapy, and when they weren't progressing they were sent for spinal surgery or simply told to learn to live it. Since 2001 when the FDA finally approved non-surgical spinal decompression therapy, there is new hope for those who suffer from degenerative disc disease. Spinal Decompression Therapy is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment performed on a special, computer controlled table similar in some ways to an ordinary traction table. A single disc level is isolated and by utilizing specific traction and relaxation cycles throughout the treatment, along with proper positioning, negative pressure can actually be created within the disc. It works by gently separating the offending disc 5 to 7 millimeters creating negative pressure (or a vacuum) inside the disc to pull water, oxygen, and nutrients into the disc, thereby re-hydrating a degenerated disc and bringing in the nutrients needed to heal the torn fibers and halt the degenerative process. As the disc is re-hydrated the shock absorbing properties are restored and a normal life can be resumed.

Herniated Cervical Disc - Pain Relief

Pain in the arm, shoulder or neck is often a clear indication of a herniated cervical disc. In specific these symptoms may involve any of the following: dull or severe pain between your neck and shoulder blades; pain that shoots down your arm towards your fingers; and a tingling sensation in the shoulder or arm. Turning the neck certain ways and angles can also induce the pain.

A herniated cervical disc is a result of the breaking open of the outer layer of the disc (annulus), which then allows the inner jelly like substance to protrude resulting in the herniated cervical disc. A herniated cervical disc does not always have instant symptoms- it may take time for the pain to be felt, and often the problem is diagnosed by X-ray when patients have a different problem. When the pain of a herniated cervical disc takes hold, patients will want to see a doctor as soon as possible.

There are various aspects and information your doctor or physician will request to aid diagnosing a herniated cervical disc, these include: a physical examination, neurological examination, medical history review, evaluation of your symptoms and breakdown of previous treatments you may have tried. The doctor will also most likely request an X-ray to see if such conditions as osteoarthritis are a related cause. Further to this the doctor may also ask for a CT or MRI scan to locate the herniated cervical disc and to further isolate the extent of the damage. A Myelogram may also be requested if the case is severe.

If the doctor proves that you have a herniated cervical disc, surgery will not be the first treatment option. Your doctor or physician should immediately recommend cold and heat therapy to combat the inflammation in combination with anti inflammatory medications. Physical therapy would also be advisable, under the strict guidance of a physical therapist. Some physical therapy methods include stretching, gentle massage, neck traction, and ice/heat therapy.

The majority of sufferers of a herniated cervical disc will notice a considerable improvement in their symptoms within 4 to 6 weeks. For this reason, conventional treatments usually work, and surgery is not likely to be appropriate nor required, so the news is generally good.

However, it is wise to be prepared for surgery in the event that your herniated cervical disc is a severe case, wherein there may be some compression placed upon the spinal cord. If surgery is recommended as the best treatment option for your herniated cervical disc, try to understand why it is being recommended and possibly seek a second opinion. Surgery on the spine is serious, and need only be performed if all other treatments for a herniated cervical disc have been exhausted.

Identifying and Preventing Narcotic Abuse in Pain Management

There are definite indications for treating chronic pain at times with chronic narcotics. It's not an ideal situation, but they do have their place for effective pain management. One of the key aspects of preventing opiate abuse is being able to identify those who are either intentionally or unintentionally falling into a higher risk profile for medication abuse. Here are some considerations in identifying those individuals.

First it should be noted that individuals who are on opiate medications regularly cost the health care system about $23,000 annually. This figure increases by $3000 annually if the patient is noncompliant with their medications. That represents a 13% increase in healthcare costs due to a noncompliant patient.

Studies have shown that if a patient is unemployed there is a higher chance of noncompliance with narcotic prescription instructions. Previous drug abuse is another risk factor for noncompliance. At the beginning of care, pain management doctors will often have those being treated sign a pain management agreement laying out the rules to increase the rate of compliance. Most of the time these agreements include that the patient receive pain medications from only one doctor, only fill their prescriptions at one pharmacy, and notify the pain management doctor about any new medications being taken.

This is another method of identifying compliance is to perform urine or saliva samples for drug testing on patients.

One way to potentially prevent narcotic abuse and pain management is through education. Over 20,000 fatal overdoses occur annually due to narcotics, and patients need to know this. Being on significantly high doses of opiate medications can lead to substantial complications along with making that individual a poor candidate for surgery.

Educating individuals on the reasons behind a drug test can make them more comfortable in knowing that it is not simply a method to catch those cheating. There is significant data now to show that even the best pain management doctors are often wrong almost a third of the time on which patients are abusing drugs. A lot of doctors think they know their patients well and are able to delineate between who would abuse narcotics or diverged opiates as opposed to compliant patients. The data shows clearly otherwise.

Once there is sufficient suspicion to assume narcotic abuse in patients, there should be a mechanism in place to get that patient help and prevent the abuse from going down the road towards a fatal overdose. Resources on available substance abuse programs and counseling will be vital to prevent this spiral of abuse.

The bottom line with identifying and preventing narcotic abuse is vigilance. Getting to know patients, having them comply with the pain management agreements, drug testing patients, and checking the pharmacy board website to ensure compliance at the pharmacy are excellent places to start.