Chronic Back Pain
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury attorney. Chronic back pain has many causes from old injuries to wear and tear throughout the years. In some cases, back pain may be amplified or initiated as a result of an accident or surgery meant to repair vertebral damage.
Chronic Low Back Pain
Chronic low back pain can lead to symptoms in other parts of the body since the network of nerves in the spine can affect discs, tendons, muscles and nerves. Being involved in an accident or becoming a victim of medical malpractice may irritate nerves in the legs or cause strain of the lower back muscles. Joints, bones or ligaments may sustain damage and damaged discs may degenerate.
Symptoms of Chronic Lower Back Problems
- Pain when sitting, standing or moving
- Muscle spasms
- Sensitivity to touch
- Pain that radiates elsewhere such as to the thigh or groin
- Pain from dull and achy to severe
Chronic Upper Back Pain
The thoracic spine, which is the mid to upper back area, is more difficult to injure than the lower back but it does happen. Upper back pain frequently occurs along with neck and/or shoulder pain. This sort of pain is more common among those who play sports, perform repetitive movements such as working at a computer for long hours daily or those who have been injured in an accident.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
The most common effects of problems with upper back pain include myofascial pain syndrome, in which an individual develops trigger points. These trigger points are painful when stressed or pressed. Myofascial pain syndrome can adversely affect the entire body.
Skeletal abnormalities, stress, depression and accidents are some of the causes of myofascial pain syndrome. Pain from this syndrome can affect the individual’s sleep, ability to work and enjoy life and can last for a long period of time. Other problems can occur in the thoracic spine, including herniated discs, fractures of the vertebrae, joint dysfunction and muscular pain.
Chronic Cervical Spine Pain
Cervical Sprain, also known as cervical acceleration/deceleration syndrome, is common in motor vehicle accidents, particularly if the vehicle is hit from behind. The force of impact can cause the head to violently move backward and forward once again. The injury from CAD syndrome may not appear immediately or within the first day but can be delayed. Stiffness, headache, dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision and neck pain are possible symptoms. While many cases of CAD syndrome resolve in time with treatment, others may develop into chronic cervical neck pain with additional complications.
Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury attorney. If you have been injured in an accident and are suffering from chronic back pain, call me at (916) 921-6400 for free and friendly advice or toll free at (800) 404-5400. You can also contact me through my online contact form on the website, and I will call you back promptly.
I have worked as a Sacramento personal injury attorney since 1982.
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Photo Attribution: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lateral_neck_X-ray_of_whiplash.jpg; courtesy of Jmarchn
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