When you’ve been in a serious car accident then you may have suffered injuries that cause you pain and discomfort. Lower back pain is not uncommon after a car accident because of how the spine is impacted by the strong force of impact when vehicles collide. In many cases, you might not have broken bones or other obvious injuries, but start to notice pain and other symptoms creep up in the hours and days after a car accident. Visit your chiropractor in Tucker after you have been in a car accident to get checked out by a specialist who can assess how you may have been negatively impacted by the wreck.
Causes of Lower Back Pain after a Car Accident
Lower back pain can occur when you have been involved in a car accident. When the accident occurs, it can put severe stress and pressure on your body as you get jostled around or shaken up. If the car accident involves serious damage to your vehicle, this can also lead to further injuries. Lower back pain can be due to stress and strain of lower back muscles, but it can also be caused by an injury like a herniated disc or damage to the sciatic nerve.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc is an example of a pinched nerve that can occur from a situation like a car accident. When the car accident jostles and jolts your body around violently, it can cause damage to your spine by causing misalignments of both vertebrae and the spinal discs that separate them. If a spinal disc bulges out of its normal positioning, it can put undue pressure on nearby nerves. This is known as a herniated disc and if it occurs in your lower back then you can experience significant pain and discomfort.
Sciatica
Sciatica is the term for a specific type of lower back pain you may experience if your sciatic nerve has been damaged or injured. The sciatic nerve is located at the base of the spine and is what sends signals through your hips, buttocks, legs, and into your feet. When the sciatic nerve is impacted by a car accident and under pressure, whether from a herniated disc, misalignment, or another type of nerve damage, you will experience a specific type of lower back pain known as sciatica.
Symptoms of Lower Back Pain after a Car Accident
When you have lower back pain after a car accident, you may also experience symptoms in the surrounding area as well. These symptoms can include soreness and tenderness in the area. If there is any swelling or inflammation in your lower back then you may notice the area is warm to the touch. Stretched and strained muscles that support your lower back can become stiff and sore, making certain movements uncomfortable. When nerves are impacted by a car accident, you may also experience tingling, numbness, and even weakness in your lower back and into your legs and feet.
Diagnosing Sciatica after a Car Accident
In order to diagnose sciatica, your car accident chiropractor will assess your spine and lower back to identify any misalignments and potential spinal discs that have slipped out of place. Your doctor may also want to run diagnostic imaging tests such as an X-ray or CT scan to get clearer images of how the area has been impacted. These types of diagnostic images can also help to rule out other potential causes for your back pain. An X-ray will primarily show your doctor how your bones, joints, and cartilage have been affected, while a CT scan may be requested to get a more thorough look to see how any soft tissues were impacted as well.
Treating Sciatica after a Car Accident
When you see a chiropractor for sciatica after a car accident, you can expect an all-natural treatment that does not require any medications. This drug-free approach to your care helps to encourage your body’s natural healing instincts as well as avoid the uncomfortable side effects of strong pain medications. Your chiropractor may use gentle therapeutic approaches like chiropractic adjustments, massage, ultrasound, and other techniques to treat the root cause of your pain as well as the symptoms you have been experiencing.
If you are struggling with lower back pain after a car accident, then don’t hesitate to visit an AICA chiropractor in Tucker. Our teams of car accident doctors at AICA Orthopedics are highly skilled in addressing a wide variety of car accident injuries and can provide you with individualized treatment and care so you can achieve a successful recovery.