Around six million car accidents occur across the US every year. As a result, about three million people sustain injuries. Another two million people develop lasting disabilities because of a crash.
If you’re experiencing back pain after a car accident, don’t wait to seek help. Here are a few forms of back pain treatment you should consider after an auto accident.
Delaying treatment could cause your pain to worsen. Don’t wait! Start using these lower back pain treatment tips today.
Rest, Ice, and Heat
In order to ensure your body heals properly, it’s important to rest. However, you shouldn’t rest too much.
Consider taking a little time off work, and void sitting at a desk or standing on your feet all day. However, don’t remain immobile for too long or your lower back pain might get worse.
As you rest, consider using ice and heat therapy to reduce your inflammation, swelling, and pain symptoms.
It’s best to start using ice therapy first. Ice can minimize swelling before you transition to heat. When applying ice packs to your back, wrap the ice in a towel.
Keep the ice pack on your back for about 15 minutes at a time.
Applying heat immediately after an injury could cause bruising and swelling to increase. It might increase your recovery time, too.
Applying heat later in the recovery process can help soothe your tense muscles. Otherwise, muscles can tighten, making it more difficult for you to manage your back pain.
Try applying a hot water bottle to the injured area for 15 minutes at a time. Heat can help improve blood flow, allowing your blood to carry healing nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Heat can also reduce your muscle tension, leading to pain relief.
Gentle Exercise
Remember, you don’t want to remain immobile for too long after an auto accident. It’s normal for your back pain to make you feel like you shouldn’t move at all. However, some gentle exercise could help ease your lower back pain after a car accident.
Start with a few short, simple activities. For example, you can take a brief walk around the block. Walking and moving your body can help you keep your muscle strength.
Movement will also encourage blood flow. Blood will reach the tense, knotted muscles that are contributing to your pain.
Keeping muscle strength is important, especially after you sustained a back injury. Strong back muscles can help support your spine, minimizing your back pain.
Chiropractic Treatment
If you experience back pain after a car accident, consider visiting a chiropractor.
A chiropractor will first assess your physical health to learn more about your injury. They might schedule an MRI for a closer look, too. The information they gather will help them develop a customized treatment plan.
Chiropractic care will help you recover faster than you might with traditional treatments (including invasive surgery). Your chiropractor will heal the source of your back pain, rather than help you manage your symptoms.
Neglecting to seek treatment right away could affect your mobility and quality of life. Your pain could become debilitating, too.
Let your chiropractor know about the symptoms you’re experiencing, such as headaches, numbness, or immobility. They can help you determine which forms of back pain treatment will encourage your body to heal properly.
They’ll likely start with a manual adjustment to ensure your spine is properly aligned. As part of your treatment plan, they might also recommend over-the-counter medication and physical therapy.
Massage Therapy
Some chiropractic offices and pain centers also offer massage therapy as treatment.
Massages can help stimulate blood flow, allowing your blood to carry nutrients to your back injury. Nutrients and oxygen in your blood could speed up the healing process.
Consider scheduling a soothing massage after a car accident, too. A massage therapist can also show you a few simple exercises you can complete at home to ease your pain.
A combination of exercises and stretches will help keep your body flexible. Remember, exercising will also help improve your muscle strength, enabling your body to support the injured area.
Routine exercises and massages can help ease your muscle tension while stimulating circulation to your lower back.
TENS
Your chiropractor might recommend you use a TENS unit. This small device can send painless electrical signals to interrupt painful nerve firing. Using a TENS unit could decrease the muscle spasms and pain you’re experiencing.
Home Remedies
Talk to your chiropractor or specialist about the at-home remedies you can use, too.
For example, they might recommend a home massage device, massage therapy, or heat therapy. Your doctor might also recommend saunas, whirlpool baths, or paraffin baths as forms of heat therapy.
Medication
Your doctor might recommend over-the-counter medications to ease tissue inflammation and swelling. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of each medication. Let them know if you’re already on medications to avoid interactions.
Your chiropractor or doctor might recommend trigger point injections, too. These injections can provide rapid relief to ease muscle spasms and pain symptoms.
Surgery
Your doctor or chiropractor might recommend surgery if the above back pain treatment options don’t help.
For example, your chiropractor might suggest minimally invasive surgical options first. These treatments involve smaller incisions, which can expedite your recovery with fewer side effects.
Otherwise, laser spine surgery using state-of-the-art technology is an option. The technique uses a light beam to remove damaged tissue, discs, or nerves.
These treatment options could help end your debilitating back pain.
Ease the Pain: Treat Your Back Pain After a Car Accident Today
Don’t let your back pain after a car accident slow you down. Instead, visit a chiropractor or pain specialist right away. With help, you can develop a back pain treatment plan based on your needs.
Seeking immediate treatment can improve your mobility and quality of life before your pain becomes debilitating.
Eager to start treatment? We’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.