Chiropractor in Portland, OR

Preventing and Managing Pain After a Car Accident

You had an unfortunate car accident that resulted in injuries. 

You feel as though you have mostly healed from the initial trauma, but are frustrated that you’re still dealing with continued neck and back pain, and you still have difficulty with your knee — especially when walking up a flight of stairs.

Will this pain ever subside? Is there additional treatment that you can seek to help, or is this something that you face for the rest of your life?

Utilize this guide to understand the difference between acute versus chronic pain following an accident, the reasons why your pain continues, and additional treatments that you may try to help alleviate your nagging symptoms.

chronic pain after car accident neck

Table of Contents

Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain After a Car Accident

Acute, or sudden, urgent pain, is a type of pain caused by an injury, accident, or related to surgery that will typically subside in a short amount of time.  Acute pain usually lasts three months or less and is resolved when the underlying cause is treated or cured.

Pain that is considered chronic in nature will, unfortunately, continue to be present three months or more following your car accident or other event, even after an injury may be considered healed or treated.

Types of chronic pain may include:

 

Persistent pain may require an exploration of pain management techniques to find the appropriate treatment or combination of treatments to reduce and relieve symptoms.

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Factors That Increase the Risk of Developing Chronic Pain After a Car Accident

Studies report that almost half of the patients who are involved in a car accident that resulted in injuries or trauma still report residual and chronic pain symptoms two years or more following the accident.

Pain following an accident may be difficult to treat for patients in optimal health, but patients struggling with additional factors may find their healing more complicated or prolonged.

Age

A person more advanced in age may have an increased risk of chronic pain from trauma or musculoskeletal injuries along with requiring additional time for general healing following injuries. 

Patients with an advanced age also have an increased potential for multiple comorbidities or diagnoses that may complicate the healing process.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Pre-existing health conditions can significantly increase the risk of lingering, chronic pain following injuries regardless of age.

Numerous health conditions may be a factor, but some conditions with significant impact include:

  • Severe osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cancer
  • Rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Diabetes
  • Neuropathy
  • Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Multiple Sclerosis

Type and Severity of Injury

The type and severity of injuries occurring from car accidents widely vary, but some injuries may be more prone to develop into a chronic problem.

Neck and back injuries are difficult to heal and symptoms tend to linger. Broken bones may seem to heal without complications, but some traumatic fractures may have nerve involvement and damage that is difficult to resolve.

Optimal future outcomes may be related to the timeframe in which care is initiated — do not hesitate to seek care for treatment of your pain symptoms.

chronic pain after car accident back

Chiropractic Care Can Help Prevent Chronic Pain

Seeking treatment for car accident injuries early may help improve future outcomes. It is important to address new pain as soon as possible to avoid the pain becoming a chronic concern.

How Can Chiropractic Care Help Patients Experiencing Chronic Pain?

Pain that becomes chronic may be more difficult to treat and may also take longer to find relief, but chiropractic care or other treatment modalities may help.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Musculoskeletal adjustments by a licensed chiropractor can be beneficial in the treatment of chronic pain. A chiropractor uses their hands or tools to relieve pain or nerve compression while completing adjustments.

Additional benefits from chiropractic adjustments may also include:

  • Joint realignment or improved range of motion
  • Nerve release or decompression
  • Improved circulation to injured area to aid in healing
  • Posture correction
  • Traction to elongate the spine and relieve pressure
 

Symptoms such as back and neck pain, whiplash, and headaches of a chronic nature are frequent reasons that patients seek chiropractic care. Patients can anticipate some soreness or fatigue following an adjustment session, but those symptoms should quickly resolve.

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Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is provided by a trained technician to manipulate soft tissue. Light pressure can be utilized for relaxation or a much more intense pressure with a deep tissue massage can treat muscles, tendons, ligaments, and muscle fascia.

Benefits of massage therapy for pain relief include:

  • Relaxation
  • Reduction of tension or stress
  • Improvement of circulation, especially to areas of injury to promote healing
  • Improvement of flexibility and reduction of muscle contractures for pain relief

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a pain management approach derived from traditional Chinese medicine in which very thin needles are inserted into the skin to stimulate muscles, nerves, tension, and stress to alleviate pain.

Chronic pain symptoms that may be helped  by acupuncture include:

  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Migraine headaches
  • Fibromyalgia symptoms
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Electric Muscle Stimulation

Multiple forms of electric muscle stimulation (e-stim) exist that can be used for rehabilitation or chronic pain relief measures. E-stim is a non-invasive treatment that uses pads or probes to target specific painful areas of the body. Electrical pulses are emitted into and under the skin to stimulate nerves and muscles to promote healing.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a non-invasive treatment approach that utilizes sound waves and a probe on the skin’s surface to visualize the underlying body and anatomical structures. Therapeutic ultrasound can be used not only to identify the source of pain but may also help to treat a variety of chronic pain issues.

Ultrasound can be used for the following:

  • Muscle pain and strain
  • Inflammation
  • Reducing scar tissue
  • Relieving swelling (edema) in muscles or joints
 

Additional benefits of ultrasound therapy may include reduced recovery time for soft-tissue (non-skeletal) injuries without the risk of side effects and a non-medicinal approach to pain management.

chronic pain after car accident shoulder

SE Portland Residents: Prevent and Manage Chronic Pain After a Car Accident With Premier Care Chiropractic

Premier Care Chiropractic specializes in treating auto accident injuries in Portland and surrounding areas.

While some people experience acute pain that resolves a short time following an accident, others may still experience symptoms for days, weeks, or even months following the accident.

The team at Premier Care Chiropractic is experienced in recognizing the signs of immediate and delayed car accident injuries. We’ll create a treatment plan that utilizes the right tools and techniques to help relieve chronic symptoms and improve your quality of life.

If you’ve been in a car accident and continue to experience chronic pain, contact the professionals at Premier Care Chiropractic today to schedule an appointment.

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The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.