In a car accident, you can injure any part of your body, but the most common injuries are those that affect the spine. Some spinal injuries are minor and will disappear in a short period of time with minimal treatment. However, there are many spinal injuries that require immediate care from an orthopedic specialist. When you get into a vehicular accident, it is impossible to determine what kind of injury you have and the severity of it without consulting with a doctor. Therefore, to be on the safe side, always visit a doctor immediately after you get into a car accident.
Whiplash
The most common injury from vehicular accidents is whiplash, which is due to the rapid and sudden back and forth movement of the neck during collision. Whiplash symptoms appear either immediately or days after the accident. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, loss of range of motion, headaches, fatigue, and tenderness in the shoulders and arms. The best way to treat whiplash is through treatment immediately following the injury – not when symptoms set in. Therefore, visit an orthopedic physician as soon as you get into an accident, so that treatment can be started prior to symptoms getting worse.
Disc Herniation and Rupture
A car accident puts immense stress on your spinal column. The spine is composed of many vertebrae, and in between the vertebrae, there are discs that prevent them from rubbing against each other. The rapid movement in a collision can cause the discs to shift from their intended places and herniate or rupture. Symptoms of a herniated or ruptured disc include intense back pain and numbness in the upper or lower extremities.
Spinal Vertebrae Fracture
The impact during a car accident can cause a vertebra of the spine to fracture and slip. This condition is known as spondylolisthesis. Symptoms of this condition include pain in the lower back, numbness, and problems with bowel and bladder control.
Spinal Cord Injury
An injury to the spinal cord is very serious and one of the most dangerous injuries incurred in car accidents. Spinal cord injuries can affect sensory and motor function, with the worst cases causing paralysis of the upper and lower body. As a result, a patient who sustains damage to the spinal cord may end up with severe repercussions, such as losing the ability to stand, walk, or feeling in their extremities.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal due to trauma that causes the herniation and bulging of discs. The narrowing of the spinal canal can cause intense pain in the lower extremities due to the discs pressing against or pinching nerves in the area. Other symptoms include numbness, weakness, bladder control issues, and bowel and bladder issues.
Treatment for Spine Injuries from Car Accidents in Colorado
If you’ve sustained a spine injury from a car accident while on the job, WorkPartners Occupational Health is here to help. Our team of specialists provides comprehensive and timely occupational health services to those who have sustained injuries.
We treat a wide variety of work-related injuries using conservative treatment methods whenever possible. We also offer in-house chiropractic care and physical therapy services in our facility in Grand Junction, Colorado.
To schedule a consultation, call WorkPartners Occupational Health at (970) 241-5585. You can also request an appointment online.
