What causes long-term pain after a car crash?

Of the roughly 2 million rear-end accidents in the US every year, a significant number of folks end up suffering from chronic pain and impairment. Some research shows that 1 out of 5 people are still in pain one year after a crash.

Dr. Weinberg sees many car crash cases in our Smyrna, GA location, and we regularly see patients who have been suffering for many years and have not been able to find help. Dr. Weinberg has great success in treating these patients.

The Cause of Chronic Pain

During an accident, the ligaments of your spine can be sprained or torn. The injured area becomes swollen and inflamed and transmits pain impulses to the spinal cord and brain.

Pain tells your nervous system that something is wrong, which tells the muscle tissues in the damaged area to contract to protect the area from further harm.

If the damage isn't treated immediately, a negative cycle develops. The hurt tissues keep sending pain signals and each time, your central nervous system reacts. This brings about a feedback loop in your nervous system that experts refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system literally becomes hypersensitive to any kind of stimulus, causing chronic pain.

Dr. Weinberg is able to help this kind of issue, as chiropractic is a proven way to restore your nervous system's healthy functioning. Research shows that adjustments are successful at reducing pain from car crashes and shows that chiropractic in fact has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Smyrna, GA and have been in a crash, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. Weinberg a call today at (678) 214-4445 for a consultation or appointment.

• Ferrari R. A prospective study of the 1-year incidence of fibromyalgia after acute whiplash injury. Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Disease 2015; doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2014-000007.
• Stone AM, Vicenzino B, Lim EC, Sterling M. Measures of central hyperexcitability in chronic whiplash associated disorder - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Manual Therapy 2012;18(2):111-7.