Causes of Chronic Pain after Car Crashes

Of the over 2 million rear-end accidents in the United States annually, a substantial number of folks end up enduring long-term pain and impairment. Some research indicates that 18% of people are still in pain one year after an accident.

Weary Chiropractic Clinic sees many car crash patients in our Prescott office, and we often see people who have been suffering for many years and have not been able to find help. Weary Chiropractic Clinic has great success in treating these patients.

What Causes Chronic Pain after a Crash?

During a crash, the tissues of your spinal column can be sprained or torn. The injured area becomes swollen and inflamed and sends pain impulses to the spine and brain.

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

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

Weary Chiropractic Clinic is able to help this kind of problem, as chiropractic care is a proven way to restore your nervous system's healthy functioning. Studies show that adjustments are successful at reducing pain from car accidents and shows that chiropractic actually has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Prescott and have been in a collision, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Weary Chiropractic Clinic a call today at (928) 778-2227 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.