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Auto Accident Related Injury Symptoms

Treatment for Auto Accident Injuries in Charlotte, NC

Anyone who has been involved in a car wreck, even a minor one, can agree that it is a scary ordeal. Injuries often happen and if left unchecked can develop into larger issues down the road. Sometimes a few days or even a week will pass before you start to feel all the effects of the collision. We recommend meeting with one of our highly trained Doctors to help you determine your best course of action for your recovery. Below are just a few of the issues or injuries you can experience after a wreck. Schedule an Appointment Online                     Our Offices in Charlotte, NC

Common Injuries After Auto Accidents Include:

 
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Whiplash

Whiplash can cause long term damage and pain for years if not properly treated, not only in the neck, but also the lower back or Lumbar region. The technical definition for Whiplash is an acceleration flexion-extension neck injury and soft tissue cervical hyper-extension injury. The specific injuries are usually cervical sprain or cervical strain but can also include the lumbar region. If not properly treated, scar tissue can result from muscle injury. This tissue is made from a tough, inflexible material and is never as strong as the original. Nerves can also become trapped in the tissue causing loss of strength, pain, tingling, and numbness.

Soft Tissue Damage

These injuries often cause a substantial amount of pain, especially in situations in which scar tissue has formed incorrectly. Scar tissue can irritate the nerves or disrupt the nerves, which is what manifests as pain or inflammation of the surrounding areas. Even if you are involved in a low speed accident, you may experience blurry vision, neck stiffness, neck pain, jaw pain or tingling in the shoulders. Other symptoms include vertigo, nausea, headaches or concussion.
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Headaches

Cervicogenic Headaches

A cervicogenic headache is a secondary headache that is the result of an injury or trauma somewhere in the neck. Whiplash, or acceleration-deceleration, injuries are very common in auto accidents or falls and are usually the cause of a cervicogenic headache. Chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapies as well as strengthening exercises can help alleviate pain and heal the underlying injury that is causing these headaches.

Temporomandibular Joint Headaches (TMJ )

A TMJ headache is one with intense jaw pain or a clicking sound in the jaw. This is a less common injury we see but one that still happens. An auto collision resulting in whiplash or the chin striking the steering wheel can cause the jaw to become misaligned. This misalignment can cause pain even days after the crash. Consulting with one of our doctors will best help determining what could be causing you to have TMJ headaches.
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Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is a highly mobile joint and is made up of various skeletal and muscular structures. Small injuries or misalignments can lead to numerous problems and pain in the shoulder. Shoulder pain can also start because of injury from car accidents, sports injuries, or even sleeping on your side or lifting something heavy. Our clinic doctors can treat shoulder injuries by mobilizing the shoulder joint while at the same time performing soft tissue release techniques. In addition, other therapies such as ultrasound and electric muscle stimulation can be used.
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Low Back Pain

The Lumbar region or low back area of the spine is made up of 5 vertebrae and starts a few inches below your shoulder blades and runs down to your Sacral Spine. This is the area of the spine that curves inward towards the abdomen. It is built for both strength and flexibility as it does a majority of the your lifting, twisting, and bending as well as acts as a shock absorber. An auto accident can cause injuries to this area by overextending its range of flexibility. When the overextension happens, it can cause micro-tears in the tissues surround the low back. Inflammation and stress on the joints and surrounding ligaments caused by injury and overuse can lead to a chronic inflammatory response that can range from nagging to debilitating pain. Again, these are just a few of the issues you may be experiencing after your collision. We recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our clinics so one of our doctors can do a proper examination and help you make the best decisions for your recovery.