The Ultimate Back Injury Guide

The Ultimate Montana Back Injury Guide

Easily the most common injures victims face after a car accident is to their back. Back injuries resulting from car accidents frequently lead to painful and not to mention expensive treatment plans like surgery or extensive physical therapy. Even minor car accident back injuries can leave victims squirming in pain for months or even years after their initial injury. Even worse still, if a back injury damages the spine it could lead to permanent paralysis or disability for its victims. Back injuries can be extremely dangerous and shouldn’t just be walked off.

This ultimate guide will help you know all the ins and outs of the various back injuries commonly caused by car accidents.

Whiplash

Whiplash is both one of the most common car accident injuries, it’s one of the most untreated injuries by its victims. Whiplash is when the soft tissue, ligaments, and muscles in the neck are torn and strained. Whiplash occurs when the head is tossed backwards and forwards violently. Seat belts do a remarkable jobs securing the body to the seat so that it’s not thrown through the windshield. But they offer precious little protection for the head. For example, a minor fender-bender, like a rear end collision, can cause an enormous amount of force to be placed on the human body. Considering how the safety measures in automobiles do nothing outside of airbags to prevent the head from being thrown forward and back again, it’s no wonder the majority of car accident victims experience chronic pain in their neck and shoulders for weeks or even months on end.

Too often, victims of whiplash don’t experience the symptoms of their injury until days and sometimes weeks after their car wreck. The most common symptoms whiplash victims experience are fatigue, chronic pain, dizziness, minor headaches, and tightness when turning the head. The best treatment option for whiplash is regular physical therapy and stretching exercises.

Herniated Disc

The spine is another part of the body that can absorb a tremendous amount of force from a car accident. Such force is diffused into the discs cushioning the vertebrae in the spine. The discs are jarred out of their natural place and can pinch the nerves along the spine. This type of injury is referred to as a herniated disc, a slipped disc, a ruptured disc, or as a bulging disc.

Fortunately, most injuries involving herniated discs can be addressed with non-invasive procedures that don’t involve painful surgeries. Most car accident victims who have herniated discs should get physical therapy or visit a chiropractor to relieve the pain they experience from improper posture and pinched nerves.

Sciatica

A secondary disorder commonly experienced by victims of car accidents who suffer herniated discs is sciatica. Sciatica is a nerve reaching from the base of the spine down through the legs to the feet.

Sciatica victims describe feeling pain shooting down their legs, as well as infrequent periods of numbness and weakness when they walk or attempt to stand up. The best form of treatment for symptoms of sciatica is regular exercise and application of heat therapy. If these methods don’t help relieve the symptoms then victims should consider scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor or even a physical therapist. The most extreme cases of sciatica, however, may require surgery.

Spondylolisthesis

Despite having a rather unusual name, Spondylolisthesis is one of the most common injuries after a car accident. Spondyloisthesis is when a stress fracture causes a vertebrae in the spine to be pushed out if its natural position. This can pinch the nerves along the spine, compressing them and causing sharp stabs of pain in its victims.

Victims of car accidents who suffer from spondyloisthesis describe long periods of chronic pain, frequent difficulty walking, and periods of numbness and weakness. The best way to treat spondyloisthesis is through regular chiropractic care or physical therapy. If such treatment forms do not relieve pain then victims should consider surgery to help return the affected vertebrae back into their proper position.

Spinal Fractures

Since their implementation in the 70’s, seat belts have saved millions upon millions of lives. They do, however, offer imperfect protections for passengers who suffer injury in car accidents. It is a common for passengers to slide out of seat belts in an accident even though they were properly strapped in at the time of the impact. While the hips and legs may be secure, the upper body and head can jerk about violently. This sort of movement is unnatural and can cause the spine to fracture in multiple places. These fractures can take place along the vertebrae and potentially cause long term difficulties and pain for car accident victims.

Victims of car accidents who suffer from these kinds of spinal fractures describe feeling extreme pain when they breath, walk, or even when they attempt to sit down. Spinal fracture victims may also have difficulties with numbness, incontinence, and infrequent weakness in their muscles. The best treatment plan for spinal fractures, like compression fractures, is extended rest and relaxation. However, if a fracture is serious enough, car accident victims may need to consider a surgical procedure to fix the fractures.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Without question the most dangerous type of back injury a car accident victim can suffer is one to the spinal cord. Besides the brain, heart, and lungs, the spinal cord is one of the most important parts of the human body. A minor cut or a simple nick can cause untold damage to a car accident victim. People who suffer spinal cord injuries face potentially lifelong disabilities. Car accident victims who suffer spinal cord injuries too often face a future of long term medical care.

Spinal cord injury victims require prolonged recovery periods since beyond surgery there aren’t many effective treatment options. Not only do they face a tough road to recover, they will need the support of their friends and families to help them in the aftermath. A spinal cord injury is, without a doubt, the most tragic and difficult injury a car accident victim can suffer.

Contact a Montana Advocates Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a car accident you will need a personal injury lawyer to protect you in the legal aftermath. The experienced attorneys with the Montana Advocates have helped thousands of car accident victims over the years recover what they are owed for their injuries and losses. Unlike other personal injury law firms, the Montana Advocates put their clients needs before anything else. When you have an Advocate on your side, you never have to worry about insurance companies offering you a settlement that doesn’t even cover the cost of your medical bills. Don’t wait to contact our office today for a free evaluation of your case. You can either call us at (406) 272-6986 or chat online right now with a live attorney from our homepage. Your recovery is our first priority. You deserve an Advocate!