While car accidents often affect the whole body, certain areas are particularly vulnerable, including the neck and particularly the lower back. The lower back is complex because it is not only a part of the spine, but also contains multiple joints and significant nerve endings. While injuries to this area are common after a car accident, this also means that a chiropractor in Snellville will be familiar with these injuries and have numerous options for treatment.
Common Lower Back Injuries
The lower spine, also known as the lumbar spine, is a series of interconnected bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, and muscles that all work together. This structure provides support, strength, and flexibility to the back and the rest of the body. This complexity also means that the lower back can be injured in a range of ways, especially after a traumatic event like a car accident.
Car accident injuries can occur in the muscles, nerves, or bones of the lower back. Most injuries occur in the discs, joints, and bones in this area, but there is a significant overlap of nerve supply to many of these areas. This means the brain can struggle to identify the cause of the pain, making it difficult for you to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms without visiting a chiropractor in Snellville.
Common injuries include the following:
- Disc Damage: When the discs between your vertebrae are damaged, moved, or ruptured during an accident, they often spill out of place and compress the surrounding spinal nerves. This can lead to pain, numbness, and tingling in the spine and areas impacted by those nerves.
- Lumbar Sprains: When the ligaments of the back are stretched or torn, this is known as a lumbar sprain. This is common when the body has sustained trauma.
- Spinal Stenosis: This is a condition that occurs when the bone channel that holds the spinal cord and spinal nerves narrows. The narrowing usually occurs over time, but a severe trauma can cause a disc or bone fragment to invade the spinal canal and cause an accelerated onset.
Treating Lower Back Pain At Home
When you start to notice lower back pain, you will likely want to seek immediate relief from the pain. You should begin looking for a chiropractor in Snellville, but in the meantime, there are methods you can use to reduce pain at home.
Rest is always key for any pain following an accident. Staying in bed and avoiding strenuous activity can be a good way to avoid pain while you wait to visit the chiropractor. You should not stay in bed for more than a couple of days, as a lack of activity can make problems worse over time, but throughout any treatment, it is important to be gentle with your back. During rest periods, you can alternate hot and cold therapy and use sparing over-the-counter medication to further address pain.
Like staying in bed can be harmful, long periods of sitting may also exacerbate your back pain. If you have to sit for a long period, set a reminder to get up and walk every 20 to 30 minutes to stretch your back. If you feel you need further support, a back brace can be temporarily helpful.
Professional Treatment for Lower Back Pain
Like any injury, lower back problems should always be addressed by a medical professional. If nothing else, they can rule out severe injuries that may require urgent treatment. Treat back pain with tips from our chiropractors. An experienced chiropractor in Snellville will also be able to address the root cause of your pain in addition to finding relief.
At AICA Snellville, our chiropractors work on teams with other specialists to create holistic plans to address your lower back pain. Many injuries will be best served by a combination of regular chiropractic adjustment and physical therapy. Together, these treatments can manually adjust your spine into a less painful position, creating alignment, and allow your muscles to regain strength after an injury. This can also prevent nerve compression that causes many sorts of pain.
In addition, the AICA Snellville team also includes radiologists, pain management specialists, neurologists, and orthopedists who can assist when more care is needed. Together, this forms a holistic team that focuses on addressing the root cause of your pain and finding you long-term relief. Contact AICA Snellville today to schedule your first evaluation!