Low back pain after a motor vehicle accident is common. In many cases the pain will go away with therapy, or on its own. In some cases, pain will improve only to flare up again. In other cases, low back pain will become chronic. Here are some facts about low back pain after a car accident.
- Low back injuries occur more commonly from front end collisions (over 50% of cases) than side impact collisions (30% of cases). 10% of low back injuries come from rear impacts.
- Lap belts and shoulder restraints prevent serious and catastrophic injuries and should be used whenever traveling in a car. However, in an accident the lap belt can contribute to lumbar disc injuries if proper use of shoulder restraints is not followed.
- Almost everyone with low back pain after a motor vehicle accident has a sprain or a strain.
- A sprain involves stretching or tearing of a ligament. If the sprain is bad enough, the ligament will become weakened, more prone to re-injury and may make a subsequent spinal injury more likely. Pain from sprains resolves in about 8-12 weeks, unless there is a significant tear.
- A strain is stretching or tearing of the tendons. Tendons connect muscles to bone. There are muscles that run all the way up and down the spine allowing movement and providing stability. The tendons of these muscles are prone to injury. Pain from strains generally resolves in about 8-12 weeks, unless there is a significant tear.
- Pain lasting more than 3 months is usually a sign of a more serious injury, like a spinal joint or disc injury.
- Fractures of the vertebra may occur after an accident. The pain is usually severe and warrants a visit to the ER.
