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What Kind Of Neck Injuries Can You Expect from Car Accidents?

Neck injuries are common from car accidents. Each year, more than 80,000 neck injuries result from car crashes in the United States.

Unfortunately, neck injuries sustained in auto accidents often go untreated or don’t get the care they require. This can lead to long-term pain, suffering, and disability.

A doctor who specializes in neck injuries should be consulted immediately if you sustain a neck injury from a motor vehicle accident.

Untreated neck injuries could lead to serious injuries and long-term problems. It is important to consult a doctor.

To make the best possible recovery, it is important to know which types of neck injuries you may have.

We will discuss some common neck injuries that result from accidents in the article below.

What Car Accidents Can Cause Neck Injuries

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of accident that results in neck injuries.

Rear-end collisions can cause whiplash and neck strains.

Your head is thrown back and forth by the collision, creating whip-like movements.

This movement can cause severe injuries such as spinal cord injuries, damage and fractures to the bones of your spine, cervical spine injuries and cervical disc and tear, cervical disc and spine injuries, cervical spine injuries and cervical disc and tear, sprains or strains of the muscles, ligaments, nerves, and other soft tissues injuries.

What happens to your neck after a car accident?

Your neck is fragile and susceptible to injury. However, auto accidents can cause serious injuries.

Your seat belt holds your body in place, but your neck and head are unrestrained at impact.

This can cause your neck to jerk, jerk to one end, or be hit by flying debris.

These quick movements can inflict injury on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the cervical spine.

Your neck muscles will tighten in anticipation of an accident.

They are more tensed than normal, so they will have less give. This can lead to increased muscle strain when they impact.

After a car accident, symptoms of neck injuries

After a car accident, there are some neck injuries to be aware of.

Sometimes you feel pain immediately.

Sometimes symptoms don’t show up for several hours, or even weeks.

Accident victims often mistakenly believe that the symptoms are due to another cause.

Delaying neck injuries can be dangerous as victims may not realize they have one.

No matter how bad your symptoms are, you should seek immediate medical attention after an accident.

The best way to recover is to work with a doctor who specializes in cases of neck injuries and car accidents.

If you have any of the following symptoms after an accident, seek medical attention.

  • Neck pain
  • Stiffness in the neck
  • The neck has a limited range of motion
  • Pain radiating from the shoulders, arms, and hands
  • Tingling, weakness, or numbness in the arms, hands, and fingers
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches

Types of neck injuries after auto accidents

A variety of neck injuries and problems can be caused by car crashes. Some injuries are minor while others may require a lifetime of care and treatment.

These are some of the most common neck injuries.

  • Whiplash: whiplash injuries are caused by your neck and head being jerked in a sudden movement. Whiplash injuries can cause strains, tears, and damage to the ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Whiplash symptoms may appear immediately following a crash or may develop over time. Your recovery time can be reduced if you seek treatment quickly. If whiplash injuries go untreated, they can lead to chronic pain, memory problems, and long-term headaches.
  • Soft Tissue Injury: Car accidents can cause damage to your soft tissues. Your neck’s soft tissues include the ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Soft tissue injury can cause pain, tenderness, stiffness, and stiffness in your neck and shoulders. Muscle strains can also result in restricted movement and muscle spasms.
  • Slipped Discs and Herniated Discs – High-impact impacts can cause discs in the cervical spine to slip between vertebrae. This can cause nerves to be compressed in the spine. Pinched nerves can cause pain, weakness, and tingling in the neck, shoulders, and arms.
  • Injuries to the Facet Joints: Your cervical spine’s facet joints aid in mobility and head-neck stabilization. Your facet joints can be irritated and inflamed by a car accident. It can also cause damage to the surrounding ligaments, which can affect the range and movement of the joints.
  • Neck Fractures A severe injury that can cause serious pain is called a neck fracture. A car accident can cause a fracture. Most people will know immediately. Do not move if you think you may have a fracture. Improper movement can cause paralysis and injure the spinal cord.
  • Lacerations or Cuts: Glass, debris, or other objects from your car could fly up during an accident and hit your neck. This can cause cuts, abrasions, and lacerations as well as bruising. These injuries aren’t usually serious and don’t require any medical attention. However, lacerations or deep cuts can cause damage to the ligaments and tendons of the neck.

This article was written by an Auto Injury Doctor at Florida Medical Pain Management. Florida Medical Pain Management is proud to offer comprehensive pain management services to a diverse group of patients. Patients at Florida Medical Pain Management can get help managing hip, knee, leg, and neck pain. The practice also offers comprehensive arthritis management, along with treatments for auto accidents, sports, and work injuries.

Abel Lila

The author Abel Lila