Injuries sustained in a car accident can be life-altering. Trauma to your bones and soft tissue can make mobility challenging and once simple tasks nearly impossible. However, treatment by pain management doctors will help relieve your acute and chronic symptoms. 

What Are Common Car Accident Injuries?

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained in car accidents. In some cases, the pain will be felt immediately, or it may take days for symptoms to manifest. Whiplash usually occurs in rear-end collisions, suddenly forcing the head and neck forward and then back. Muscles and tendons in the neck get hyperextended and tear. 

There will be a pain in the neck and shoulders, and a decreased range of motion. Pain is also common when rocking the head in any direction. The neck will be tender to the touch and the muscles may feel knotted. Headaches will radiate from the base of the skull up to the forehead. 

Ligaments are bands of tissue linking bones, joints, and cartilages together. While flexible, they often become strained in car accidents. The affected areas will swell and ache, and there will be a noticeable decrease in dexterity. 

Back injuries are also common. The spinal cord has discs between each vertebra. They’re made of fibers that have a gel-like center and are meant to absorb damage to the spine. However, if the spinal trauma is severe enough, a disc will become herniated and dislodged into the spinal canal. The disc presses against the spinal cord or on a nerve root, which is very painful. 

The vertebrae at the base of the spine can also slip out of place. Known as spondylolisthesis, symptoms include lower back pain and reduced mobility. Patients may also experience tightness in their hamstrings along with tingling and numbness in the legs. 

How Can You Benefit From an Injury Medical Doctor’s Treatment?

Pain management doctors offer a variety of non-invasive treatments to alleviate symptoms and decrease the likelihood of surgery. 

Since every car accident is different and every patient has different needs, your doctor will create a customized treatment plan. This may include medication and injections to relieve pain. They may also use physical therapy to help you regain mobility in the affected areas and strengthen damaged muscles. 

Both physical therapy and massage therapy can be used to improve blood circulation throughout the body. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients that will reduce swelling and encourage healing while also eliminating metabolic waste that developed in the body as a result of the injuries. 

The sooner you reach out to a pain management doctor, the more likely you are to recover. Accident Medical Doctors Auto & Motorcycle Injuries serving Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe AZ, has an experienced and board-certified staff ready to provide the relief you need. From cortisone injections to physical therapy, you’ll have access to comprehensive treatment options from doctors who are dedicated to your wellness. For more information on the treatments they provide, visit their website. To schedule an appointment, call (602) 632-0000.