Spine injuries are common during an auto accident and manifest in a number of symptoms. The spinal cord stretches from the bottom of the brain stem all the way to the tail bone and has a number of very important functions including mobility, feeling, and sending messages to and from the brain through the nervous system. Because of the many functions it plays, the spine is easily affected by forceful impact of a crash. In this article, we’ll look at the types of spine injuries, symptoms and treatment in the following sections.
Types of auto accident spinal injuries
There are many types of spine injuries one can sustain during an auto accident. Here are the most common injuries:
- Whiplash – this injury occurs when the head is thrust forward and backwards quickly, putting a lot of pressure on the neck muscles,
- Sciatica – this injury occurs when the sciatica nerve is pinched, usually from herniated discs during impact,
- Facet joint injury – this injury occurs when facet joint, located in the spine, get injured making it hard to support the body properly,
- Herniated discs – these discs usually act as shock absorbers for the spine column but they could leak and cause pressure on the surrounding nerves,
Symptoms of spine injuries
Spine injuries manifest in a number of ways can sometimes take up to weeks to manifest symptoms like in the case of whiplash. However, the symptoms of spine injuries tend to be unique in their own ways. Depending on the part of the spine that was injured, you may experience these symptoms:
- Sharp, radiating pain that shoots down the back,
- Stiffness of the back, making in difficult to bend or stretch,
- Numbness below the area of injury,
- Muscle spasms in the legs, arms, or back,
- Difficulty controlling bowel or bladder,
- Tingling sensation or feeling of pins and needles,
- Headaches that linger for awhile
Treatment of spine injuries
If you experience any of the above symptoms it is important to see a doctor promptly. Spine injuries tend to have long recovery and can affect your work and daily routine so it’s important to get seen by a qualified doctor. Usually the doctor will assess your medical history and your injuries from the accident to determine the best cause of action.
During the initial consultation, the doctor will order diagnostic scans such as x-ray, CT-Scan and/or MRI to determine the extent of treatment. This is a good time to let the doctor know all the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Recovery period
Recovering from spine injuries requires some patience to make sure that everything goes smoothly. You will need to take it slow and follow the doctor’s advice to the best of your ability. If not treated well, spine injuries can lead to chronic conditions so take your time to heal. Avoid self-medicating as that can lead to other complications.
Get help at The Brooks Clinic
If you’re looking for a reputable auto injury clinic, visit us here at The Brooks Clinic. With 4 locations across the Oklahoma City metro and same day appointments, The Brooks Clinic is a full service auto accident care clinic and we’ll take care of you without any delays. All you need to do is either give us a call at (405) 943-0303 or click here to schedule an appointment. Our board-certified doctors and trained staff is ready to help you through the path of recovery.
