Back Pain After a Wreck: When to Get Checked

Quick answer: See a doctor for back pain after a fall or injury. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) lists that on its own, along with numbness and tingling, severe pain that doesn’t improve with medication, and back pain with trouble urinating, leg weakness, pain or numbness, fever, or weight loss you did not intend. So after a wreck in Cabot, you don’t need to wait a few weeks to see if it passes. Call 911 for a neck or spine injury with loss of feeling or inability to move.

What can back pain feel like after an accident?

NIAMS says back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that may shoot down the leg, and that it can come on suddenly from an accident, a fall or lifting something heavy. Depending on the type and cause, you may notice:

• pain that increases with lifting and bending
• pain that gets worse when resting, sitting or standing
• pain that comes and goes
• stiffness in the morning that lessens with activity
• pain that travels into your buttocks, leg or hip
• numbness or weakness in your legs or feet

NIAMS also sorts back pain by how long it lasts. Acute back pain happens suddenly and usually lasts a few days to a few weeks. Subacute lasts 4 to 12 weeks. Chronic lasts longer than 12 weeks and occurs daily.

When should I get checked?

What you notice	What the source says
Neck or spine injury with loss of feeling or inability to move	MedlinePlus: call 911
Severe pain anywhere on the body	MedlinePlus: go to an emergency department or call 911
Back pain after a fall or injury	NIAMS: see a doctor
Numbness and tingling	NIAMS: see a doctor
Severe back pain that doesn’t improve with medication	NIAMS: see a doctor
Back pain with trouble urinating	NIAMS: see a doctor
Back pain with weakness, pain or numbness in your legs	NIAMS: see a doctor
Back pain with fever, or weight loss you did not intend	NIAMS: see a doctor
Pain that doesn’t improve after a few weeks	NIAMS: see a doctor

If you are not sure, MedlinePlus suggests calling a provider and describing your symptoms.

What might be causing it?

NIAMS lists several mechanical causes that can apply after a wreck. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that support the spine. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. A herniated or ruptured disc can compress and irritate nearby nerves. Vertebrae can fracture.

Other things may be going on at the same time, such as age-related changes in the spine or an inflammatory condition, and sometimes no specific cause can be identified. Tell us about any back trouble you had before the wreck, so it goes in your record.

How will my back be examined?

NIAMS describes what a doctor will likely do, and it lines up with a first visit at our office.

Your history. Expect questions like where exactly it hurts, when it started, what you were doing, what makes it better or worse, and how bad it is on a scale of 1 to 10.

A physical exam. That may include looking at your spine and posture, asking you to bend or lift your legs, and testing your reflexes, muscle strength and sensation.

Imaging, if you need it. NIAMS says most people do not need additional testing, though doctors sometimes order tests to rule out or confirm a cause. X-rays only show bones. They can help diagnose broken bones, changes due to aging and changes in the alignment of the spine. An MRI can help diagnose damage or disease in soft tissues.

“Dr. Luke Audirsch provided a very thorough exam, including X-rays, and clearly explained everything he found,” wrote Dylan Winspear in a Google review.

What can I do until my appointment?

These come from NIAMS’s list of treatments and steps to take:

• Use cold packs to help relieve some back pain, and hot packs to increase blood flow to the muscles and tissues of the back.
• Avoid bedrest. Limit activities or exercise that cause pain, and gradually increase physical activity as tolerated.
• Check with your doctor or physical therapist before starting any exercise routine.

If any of the warning signs above show up while you wait, don’t wait for the appointment.

What treatments are there?

Chiropractic care is one option, and it isn’t the only one. NIAMS lists medications, physical therapy and lifestyle changes, and it includes manipulation of the spine among complementary treatments that may help relieve pain. NIAMS says surgery may be suggested if all other treatments have not relieved your pain, and that not everyone is a candidate.

On spinal manipulation specifically, NCCIH says it may lead to small improvements in low-back pain and function. Read what the research says about spinal manipulation, including the side effects. Dr. Luke works closely with your other health practitioners.

At our office, chiropractic adjustments use a low-force, prone specific technique. A plan may also include rehabilitative therapy.

Does back pain after a wreck matter for my claim?

It can. If your back is part of an auto insurance or personal injury claim, your records need to show it. Dr. Luke is a Certified Personal Injury Examiner, and he documents the mechanism of injury, detailed findings, functional impairments and your response to care.

Two more things to check: who pays first, and what “rejected in writing” means, and whether you owe the state an SR-1 accident report within 30 days. This is general information and not legal advice.

Why see Dr. Luke for back pain after a wreck in Cabot?

The office offers same-day appointments and a same-day new patient consultation with no obligation, and it takes auto insurance for car accident cases. See how car wreck and whiplash care works here, then call or text (501) 605-6660 or contact the office.