What kind of back pain can auto accidents cause?
Auto accidents coul potentially harm your back in numerous ways, but examples of injuries that are likely to occur include:

Muscle and tendon strains
Muscle and tendon strains are one of the most common types of auto accident injuries. Even at very low speed, the impact of one vehicle hitting another or colliding with a solid barrier can have a devastating effect on your back, which, by design, can’t withstand such forces.

Ligament sprains
Ligaments are similar to tendons, but whereas tendons connect muscles to bones, ligaments connect bones to other bones. Ligaments can stretch or tear in your back for the same reasons tendon damage occurs.

Fractures
Fractures are most likely to happen if your upper body connects with the steering wheel or dashboard with force, or you suffer a crush injury. Ribs are more likely to fracture than vertebrae, which can offer your spine a degree of protection.

Herniated discs
The flexible discs that sit between each set of vertebrae in your spine have a tough outer shell with a softer core. Violent spinal motion in a road traffic accident can damage the outer shell, causing the disc to bulge or rupture.
In addition to the damage done to your bones or soft tissues, these injuries can also cause radiculopathy, a condition where your spinal nerves come under pressure from damaged, inflamed, or misaligned structures in your spine.

Herniated discs
The discs in-between your vertebrae can suffer tears during a car accident that allows the soft center of the disc to bulge or protrude into your spinal canal. The nerve pressure can cause pain in your limbs as well as neck and back pain.

How is back pain diagnosed?
The first step in diagnosing your back pain is to visit Tulsa Accident Care Center. A doctor there needs to examine you and find out how your accident happened, and get the details about any emergency examinations or treatment you’ve had.
Tulsa Accident Care Center has state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities on-site to help determine the cause of your back pain, including:

• X-rays
• Digital ultrasound
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• CT (computed tomography)

You might need a blood panel and other tests as well, depending on your symptoms.

How is back pain treated?
Tulsa Accident Care Center treats back pain using a combination of medication, physical therapies, and passive treatments. These include:

• Anti-inflammatories
• Pain-relieving medication
• Ultrasound therapy
• Braces or back supports
• Heat and ice therapy
• Traction
• Rehabilitation-focused exercises
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• Massage therapy
• Phonophoresis

Injections for pain or inflammation may also be available to help with the back pain you experience after an auto accident.
If you’re suffering from back pain after an accident on the road, call Tulsa Accident Care Center today or book an appointment online.