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Back pain following a car accident is not just uncomfortable—it can be a clear sign that you’ve sustained a significant injury. Unfortunately, many car accident survivors find themselves dealing with chronic back issues if these injuries are not properly treated. Whether you're exploring physical or chiropractic therapy options, understanding the relationship between car accidents and back pain is the first step to seeking appropriate care.
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Discover the significance of neck popping after a car accident, its potential causes, and effective strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Learn the importance of patience and the right approach to healing.
Discover the pivotal role chiropractic care plays in the recovery from auto accidents with Estner Injury Centers. Explore services from spinal adjustments to nutritional counseling for holistic healing in Rhode Island.
The Condition: Neck pain, headaches and dizziness from a rear end car accident. 23-year-old female was involved in a motor vehicle collision. The patient stated she was a driver of a motor vehicle that was stopped in highway traffic and rear-ended by another vehicle, forced into another vehicle. She attended to her primary care physician and was diagnosed with a concussion and neck sprain with headaches. She was also experiencing a mild degree of vertigo and mild blurry vision when she attended to Estner Injury Centers about two weeks after the collision. The findings: Moderate degree of muscle spasm. Misalignment of the skull in relation to the fist bone of the neck. Upper back joint misalignment with moderate trapezius tightness and muscle splinting. The treatment: Typical treatment for whiplash: Manipulation of the neck and upper back, electrical stimulation, ultrasound for the first 6 weeks. The send 6 weeks consisted of stretching, light traction and exercises for the neck and upper back. The results: Full resolution in 12 weeks with no limitations of anhy activities of daily living.
The condition: repetitive stress injury related to work duties 63-year-old male presented with chief complaint of right sided neck pain radiating down his right arm into his hands. The patient works as an order picker and stated he was working on a large order, requiring repetitive motions for 4 continuous hours. He started to feel some numbness and pain starting from the right side of his neck down to the shoulder blade and down his right arm to his right hand. He was initially examined by his primary care physician, x-rayed, prescribed pain medication and released. Not finding any relief of his symptoms, he attended to Estner Injury Centers. The findings: A CT scan revealed degenerative disc disease. The lower neck discs reduced the space for the nerve that travels down the arm. Range of motion was limited with turning the head to the right side. Moderate muscle tightness of the trapezius region. The treatment: Patient was taken out of work for a month to reduce inflammation and reduce the repetitive stress factor. Traction to the neck was done for 10-15 minutes at a session. Deep muscle work was done for the trapezius musculature. Therapies included: Ultrasound, electrical stimulation, instrument assisted myofascial release. The result: After two months the patient no longer had symptoms. Ergonomic recommendations were advised by Estner Injury Centers and implemented. The patient returned to work and has had no residual issues that were reported back to our facility.
The condition: Injuries from a motor vehicle accident 49-year-old female was involved in a motor vehicle collision on May 6, 2023. The patient stated she was the restrained driver of a motor vehicle traveling on a main road when another vehicle suddenly made a left-hand turn colliding with the patient's front driver side. Patient stated she experienced immediate neck pain and pain in the lower back. She was transported by rescue taken to a local hospital where she underwent x-rays and was prescribed medications and released. She then began physical therapy which she continued for about three and was released with residual complaints. Additionally, the patient was evaluated by an orthopedist and declined steroid injections. The initial presentation: When she presented to Estner Injury Centers 6 months after the accident, she was experiencing persistent neck pain that radiated to the shoulders and pain down her entire spine. She had lower lumbar pain with radiation to the right lower extremity. When she stood erect, the pain throughout her spine increased to a point where she starts to lean forward and is unable to straighten up; this was her most concerning complaint. She was unable to function normally, conducting most daily tasks without some degree of assistance wither with a cane or person. Exam findings and Diagnoses: The mid to lower spinal muscles were exceptionally weak and the core muscles were contracted. Her neck range of motion was limited due to muscle tightness and joint fixation. Her right SI joint was rotated resulting in a short leg and spinal tilt. The Treatment: The goal was to be able to relax the core muscles by electric stimulation superficial and trigger point/myofascial a bit deeper. Strengthening to the spinal muscles was conducted using Russian Stimulation. Exercises with electric impulse performed surging the muscles and gaining immediate strength. After two weeks manipulation began, and the spine started to establish proper alignment and indicated postural improvements. The patient wore a lumbar support for 4-6 hours per day. Therapy continued for nearly 4 months. Her headaches full resolved, neck range of motion and cervical curve restored to normal. Lower back pain fully resolved. There was still some mild sciatic discomfort and occasional issues with maintaining an erect posture, mainly when on feet for longer than 6 hours at a time.
The Condition: Left Side lower back pain only with activity The History: 67-year-old male presents with one year history of left lower back pain nonradiating. He stated that he is uncertain how it began. He states that he does not have pain when he is not moving. Activities such as going up and down stairs will aggravate the condition. He has tried physical therapy and consulted on three occasions within orthopedist. An MRI was conducted and it was advised he undergo cortisone injection but decided to try chiropractic first. The Evaluation: Left Sacroiliac dysfunction due to weak core musculature and excessively tight hamstrings The Treatment: Over the course of eight weeks, the patient has undergone repetitive adjustments to the SI joint and sacrum. PNF stretching of the hamstrings (stretching using a breathing and muscle contraction method to achieve a deeper stretch) was conducted on every visit. The patient conducted core exercises at home including planks and abdominal work. A heel lift of 1/8” was inserted in his shoe. The result: The patient achieved full resolution and is diligent about his home exercises and stretching routine. He still attend to the facility to get check and sometimes he doesn’t even need an adjustment ( and we don’t charge him the visit fee)
The condition: lower neck pain with numbness and tingling to the arm and hand 67-year-old male presents with pain and stiffness in the right lower cervical region with frequent numbness and tingling into his hand. This condition has been ongoing for nearly six months and now getting worse. He stated when he raises his hand overhead, he feels a warm sensation in his arm and sometimes loses feeling. He has brought to this to the attention of his doctor, but no helpful recommendations were given. He stated he finds it difficult to sleep often being awakened by the numbness in his hand. He is also having trouble turning his head from side to side and feels general tightness around his right shoulder. The diagnosis: My examination confirmed a diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and compression of the Brachial Plexus (the network of nerves and vascular structures that travel from the neck area down the arm). The direct cause of the pressure was a combination of T1 and the first rib misalignment, poor posture resulting in shortened and extremely tight pectoralis muscles. The treatment: Treatment consisted of manual manipulation of T1 and associated rib. Deep muscle stretching using theragun, Russian stimulation with therabands to regain strength in the arm musculature, cupping in the trapezius and rhomboids areas. This occurred for 6 visits. The result: 50 % improvement after the first visit and gradual improvement over 4 weeks totaling the 6 visits eventually to full resolution.
Most whiplash (sprain/strain) injuries occur from car accidents, specifically rear end collisions. A whiplash injury is the result of the body and neck initially being thrown backwards into the seat and headrest and then lunged forward causing a “whipping” type of motion. In the absence of the head hitting the steering wheel, most of the spinal damage will occur to the ligaments of the neck, joints (capsules), and musculature. The extent of the injury is often not immediate and tends to have an insidious effect over the following few weeks. Commonly symptoms will include: neck stiffness and inability to move the head, pain along the spine, a dull, throbbing headache in the back of the head and frequent tiredness. In most situations emergency medical professionals will evaluate the condition at the scene. From there, rescue may transport the injured to a local hospital for further evaluation. Typically, x-rays will be conducted the patient will be prescribed medications and then released. If the patient does not attend immediately to the hospital and symptoms persist, it is advisable to be evaluated at an urgent care center or private physician. Once it is determined that there is no severe injury, focus should shift to reducing the inflammation, muscle spasm and restoring normal range of motion and cervical curvature as soon as possible. But, if you had an accident long ago or took another approach and still don’t feel right, it is never too late to try to restore the joints to normal position and improve range of motion. There are a variety of ways to approach rehabilitation for a sprain/strain injury like whiplash, chiropractors and physical therapists are the most copmmon. So how do you choose one versus the other? Chiropractors see a whiplash injury as a musculoskeletal issue whereas physical therapists will often only focus on the muscular component. The importance of addressing the joint component (skeletal) of the injury through a variety of forms of manipulation has proven to accelerate progress and reduce the likelihood of long-term effects such as degenerative changes to the joints and discs. There are instances where more advanced exercise and/ or myofascial methods are needed, and physical therapy is highly effective and recommended by Estner Injury Centers. Estner Injury Centers has provided effective, safe, and efficient treatment for whiplash through physiotherapy and chiropractic manipulation for nearly 25 years. Patients who are unfamiliar with the therapies provided initially often comment upon discharge that they are feeling better than they did before the accident. In addition to offering in house treatment, we have an established network of health professionals such as neurologists, pain management, orthopedists, and radiologists to confer with and refer to if the desired goal is not being met. This comprehensive approach has proven its effectiveness consistency over time. We want you to feel confident that we fully understand what you are experiencing with your whiplash injury and allow us to treat and guide you through the process to restore your health, as if the accident never happened. Feel Better with Estner, you deserve it!!!
Estner Injury Centers was founded in 2001 and since then, we’ve expanded to four locations throughout Rhode Island. We treat many sources of pain and offer a suite of therapies to help our patients accelerate recovery.
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Back pain following a car accident is not just uncomfortable—it can be a clear sign that you’ve sustained a significant injury. Unfortunately, many car accident survivors find themselves dealing with chronic back issues if these injuries are not properly treated. Whether you're exploring physical or chiropractic therapy options, understanding the relationship between car accidents and back pain is the first step to seeking appropriate care.