Car Accidents and Neck Injuries
Posted on January 12th, 2017 by Oddo & Babat, P.C.
Our bodies are subject to a ripple effect. Just one injury can end up affecting our entire wellbeing. A car accident is a traumatic event that can cause residual effects on your body for weeks, months, and even years. It can take time to assess how you feel, and a proper recovery rests on that ability. Although each person and situation is different, there are many common injuries after any sort of auto accident. Although each car accident has their own unique conditions — such as the angle of the collision and the position of where each person is located during the crash — many patients experience similar symptoms. In this series, we are re going to discuss four common injuries that, without treatment, can turn into chronic problems.
Car accidents are notorious for causing neck injuries. But another common complaint is stiffness and pain in the middle of your back, or your thoracic spine. As mentioned above, the ripple effect of a car accident can cause this pain to occur in many places you may not have expected. The pain from an accident may begin at your neck, but if you are involuntarily making changes to your posture or other muscles are compensating, this pain can ripple down your spine and cause other issues.
In the middle of your back — the thoracic spine — the muscles might feel very tight. Even something as simple as sitting in chair might feel difficult at times because of the stress on the rhomboid muscles. The tightness there can shorten the muscles, which can cause you to feel like your shoulders are locked up. You may find that rotating side to side can be hard to do. Along with the mid-back, the lower back can also be aggravated after the incident (we’ll be discussing this in an upcoming article).
A simple fix to alleviate these symptoms can be a simple rowing exercise. Miming the action of rowing will strengthen the rhomboid muscles, located around your scapula. When these muscles are strong, it will allow you to carry your weight in the proper position and not just on the area of the thoracic spine. This will also keep your shoulders feeling looser and less ‘locked up.’
Stretching and strengthening are the two components that can really alleviate your pain, and careful attention to these muscle groups will allow you to continually assess how your body is feeling after an accident. This can help you avoid further pain in the long term. Something that seems like a small issue, such as poor posture, can lead to rounded shoulders and contribute to kyphosis, or an abnormally curved spine. If there is a lack of emphasis on strengthening your muscles now, this can contribute to greater arthritis pain in the future.
A car accident can inflict many systemic injuries, but with knowledge and consistent practice, you can stem the onset of pain. Of course, the best way to ensure relief from chronic pain is by visiting a specialist that can cater to your exact needs. Contact a neck pain doctor Rockville MD trusts today.
I consulted with David the first time a couple of years ago on a serious matter that affected a very close member of my family. Not expecting a good experience from this serious situation coupled with an attorney consultation, the entire thing surprised me as it was pleasant, professional, and completely successful. We found him clear, direct, generous and extremely knowledgeable throughout the process. I give my very strongest recommendation
