The trauma to the human spine caused by the impact in an auto accident can result in many different kinds of injury and pain types.
The injuries can result in a range of diagnoses such as soft tissue injury, whiplash, cervical and lumbar strain or sprain, disc bulges, disc herniations, aggravation of pre-existing non-symptomatic osteoarthritis and injury to the vertebral discs themselves.
Soft tissue inflammation and straining type injuries are usually treated conservatively with a regimen of heat/cold packs, anti-inflammatory and pain medications and physical therapy. More serious injuries such as disc bulges and disc herniations may require steroid injections or surgical intervention. Bulges and herniations cause pain by compressing on the nearby nerves or spinal cord and radiating pain or numbness into the arms or legs. Some experts believe victims can have a discogenic or intervertebral disc injury causing pain coming from injured nerves within the disc itself even in the absence of evidence of nerve root compression.
It is important to seek immediate medical treatment when you have been involved in an auto accident and experience any type of neck or back pain.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
