Have you recently been in a car accident and now suffer from lower back pain? If so, you’re not alone. Every year, around 2 million people involved in car accidents suffer permanent injury.
One of the most common afflictions resulting from a car accident is lower back pain. The force of impact puts the body under unnatural levels of stress. This can lead to damage to the ligaments, muscles, discs, and vertebrae.
If you’re dealing with lower back pain after a car accident, keep reading. Below are the steps you should follow to start the road to recovery.
Get Diagnosed
Many factors can lead to lower back pain. Before starting treatment, you need to assess what is causing your pain. Moving forward with a rehabilitation plan that doesn’t match your injury can lead to further damage.
Book an appointment with a chiropractor or other medical professional. They’ll give you a proper assessment and provide a path forward based on their findings.
Manage Your Pain
Lower back injuries can be incredibly painful. Untreated, they can severely impact your ability to maintain your daily activities.
If a doctor feels it appropriate, they’ll prescribe a pain-killer or muscle relaxer to help you as you start your wellness routine. Prescription medications are very strong, so be sure to only take them as prescribed.
Alternating between hot and cold therapy will also help ease discomfort. While not a long-term solution, hot or cold packs can ease swelling and inflammation.
Get Active
Exercises focused on strengthening your lower back can help you recover. Be sure to follow professional guidance regarding your limitations. The key is to start slow and build yourself up. Focus on form and consistency over strength and power.
Stretching or activities like yoga can help return length to your muscles. Increasing your mobility will help you recover quicker while easing discomfort. Again, don’t push yourself further than your back is ready to go.
Visit a Chiropractor
While capable of supporting great strength, the spine is still a delicate structure. The impact of a car accident can cause misalignments that lead to muscle imbalances, numbness in the extremities, headaches, and more.
A licensed chiropractor will assess and adjust your spine’s alignment. Restoring proper alignment will help your body’s natural healing powers work more effectively. Muscles will be properly balanced and your posture will be more natural.
Seeing a chiropractor also means that you’ll have a professional charting your progress. They’ll make notes of your progress as well as any chronic issues they identify. This information is vital to long-term well-being.
Lower Back Pain After a Car Accident: Final Thoughts
Being in a car accident affects your life in many ways. There’s the obvious concern for safety that immediately follows the incident. Then there’s the following responsibility of dealing with insurance companies, car repair, and so on.
Developing lower back pain after a car accident is one of these factors that many people deal with. Left untreated, it can lead to a lifetime of pain and discomfort.
Luckily it doesn’t have to be that way. Following the above steps will set you on the path to recovery, helping you regain control of your life and move past your trauma.
If you’ve been in an accident and are now suffering from lower back pain, contact us to book a no up front cost to you Car Accident assessment and get yourself on the road to recovery.
