Lower Back Pain After a Car Accident
It’s possible you overdid it at the gym. Or maybe you attempted to lift something in the house that was far too heavy. Perhaps you’re dealing with a deteriorating disorder like sciatica or arthritis. Whatever the cause of your lower back pain, it is something that’s not going anyway just by wishing it away.
According to WebMD, almost everyone will experience at least some sort of lower back pain during their lives. Most of the back pain will occur naturally as you age and become more susceptible to stress and strain on the lower spine as you gradually lose muscle mass and your bones become less dense.
But in many cases, lower back pain is not due to lifting too much weight or a spinal disorder, but instead the direct result of a personal injury like an auto accident that wasn’t your fault. In this case, you not only require medical treatment, but you need to consult with a personal injury attorney to acquire the funds you deserve from loss of work and from experiencing serious physical and emotional trauma.
From New York City to Portland, Oregon; from Madison, Wisconsin, to Houston, Texas, there is a reputable attorney near you who can take on your case and not only get you much needed financial compensation, but also the medical care you’re going to require for your lower back pain.
Take the case of herniated disks which were caused when a pickup truck blew a stop sign at a four-way intersection and slammed into your driver’s side door. You survived the crash but not without painful personal injury to your lower back. It’s possible the lower back pain you’re experiencing from suddenly herniated disks so bad it’s preventing you from performing your job.
What exactly are herniated disks?SaysCity Wide Injury, “You may have heard this condition described as a slipped, ruptured, or bulging disc. A herniated disc can put pressure on nerves and affect spinal alignment, leading to a variety of issues.” And every one of those issues involves lower back pain and lots of it.
But there does exist a silver lining in all this bad news. A reputable personal injury attorney will not only litigate your case in a court of law, but he or she can also hook you up with a specialized chiropractor within 72 hours of your accident, getting you on the road to recovery, and eventually, back to work.
- Ice
Icing your lower back within the first 24 to 48 hours is said to be one of the best things you can do for your lower back injury. Applying cold reduces inflammation. Says E.
Anne Reicherter, associate professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, even if warmth feels better on your back since it helps to alleviate the pain by relaxing the muscles, it actually exacerbates the inflammation. Only switch to heat after 48 hours of applying ice.
- Stay Active
Or said another way, stay loose. Like the rest of our body, our spines were meant to move. Even if you’re experiencing pain, whenever possible, try and stay active. Go for walks, attempt to take care of light household chores, cook a meal, go swimming.
just stay as active as possible without doing further damage to your lower back. Naturally, stay away from any heavy lifting or overly active exercise like jogging until you get your doctor’s go ahead.
- Stretch Out
Staying still, such as sitting in a chair for most of the day will only further stiffen your injured lower back. Try to stand as much as possible. Or, if you must sit, get up every 15 to 20 minutes and stretch out.
If you aren’t sure which types of stretches to do for your lower back, you can look up the most effective Yoga positions for relieving lower back pain. Make stretching an everyday routine, even after your lower back damage has healed.
- Pay Attention to Posture
Keep proper posture in the fore of your mind. Slumping puts undue pressure on your lower back. When you’re suffering from a lower back injury due to an auto accident, added pressure will only make your condition worse while giving you more unwanted pain.
- Take Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Some people hate the thought of popping pills every few hours. But if your lower back is injured and you’re suffering from herniated disks, it’s a good bet you’re going to require the painkilling, anti-inflammatory properties of ibuprofen like Advil or Motrin. Aspirin can help alleviate your pain as well.
Lower back pain caused by an auto accident, or any other type of accident, that wasn’t your fault can be a frustrating and painful experience. Make sure to consult with a reputable personal injury attorney who will fight for your much deserved financial compensation and who will also steer you towards the right chiropractor and/or back surgeon. But while convalescing at home, do everything you can on your own to relieve your stress and lower back pain.