Sprained Back in a Car Accident
Car accidents are always severe, and one of the most common injuries that someone could sustain is a sprained back. Like other injuries, back pain can range in severity from a minor annoyance to extremely debilitating. Some people with back pain can have trouble walking, returning to work, or even getting out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately, back pain is widespread in the United States. Some of the statistics that have been published by The Good Body on back pain have shown that:
- About 4 out of every 5 people in the United States will experience back pain at some point in their life.
- About a third of all Americans over the age of 65 have reported back pain in the last three months.
- While women are more likely than men to suffer from back pain, men are more likely than women to report their pain to a doctor.
Clearly, back pain is a common problem. Car accidents will only make this problem worse. Therefore, it is important to explore where back pain comes from and how it is treated.
Mechanisms of a Sprained Back in a Car Accident
When someone is involved in a car wreck, the rapid changes in momentum can place a lot of stress on the back. As the neck and body snap back and forth, the ligaments, tendons, and muscles of the back are pulled in multiple directions quickly. This can stretch the ligaments and muscles to their limits, resulting in pain. This will lead to a sprained back. Some of the symptoms of a back sprain include:
- A reduction in the range of motion of the neck
- Pain in the back that gets worse with movement
- Difficulty standing, walking, and sleeping
- Trouble bending over
When this happens, it is essential for people to seek help from a trained medical provider as quickly as possible. The sooner the treatment starts, the faster someone will recover.
Treating a Sprained Back
Pain in the back is one of the hardest conditions to treat. Because there are so many different causes, it can be hard for individuals to find relief quickly. Regardless, some of the treatment options include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as Tylenol and Motrin
- Heading pads that can help relax the muscles
- Ice that can stop the inflammatory process
- Rest from physical activity
With severe pain, some of the other options include back injections with steroid medications, massage therapy, and even narcotic pain medications. Narcotics can make people tired, so they should be careful driving while taking these medications.
Watch YouTube Video: Neck and Back Pain After a Car Accident. This video explains some of the ways you can address neck and back pain after a car accident.
Contacting an Auto Accident Lawyer
Following a severe auto accident, it is essential for everyone to seek appropriate medical care. Unfortunately, it might take weeks, months, or even years for someone to fully recover from a sprained back. During this time, individuals might have trouble returning to work or school. This can place the entire family under extreme duress. Therefore, it is a good idea to speak with a car accident lawyer in Sacramento.
Most importantly, everyone needs to know that they do not have to face this tough situation by themselves. Meeting with a Sacramento car accident attorney can be beneficial. You and your family might be deserving of significant compensation.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Back pain after a car accident is one of the most common problems that people could develop. If someone you know has struggled with back pain following a motor vehicle accident, please call me at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I am honored to be an attorney in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and in the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
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Photo Attribution: The photo that was placed at the beginning of this page was located first on Pixabay.
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