Rear-end collisions are among the most common auto accidents. Unfortunately, even at low speeds, rear-end collisions often lead to injuries. If you were in a car that was rear-ended, you might experience back pain as a result of the accident.
Here, we’ll discuss how long you can expect to recover from back pain after a rear-end collision.
Back Injuries After a Rear-End Collision
Multiple back injuries can affect drivers or passengers in cars that have been rear-ended. The most common include:
Whiplash
Whiplash is among the most prevalent of auto accident injuries. This injury happens when the neck is forced to whip back and forth quickly, leading to symptoms including headaches, loss of neck range of motion, fatigue, and tenderness in the upper back, shoulders, or arms.
Herniated disc
The discs that cushion the vertebrae in the spine can be injured in a rear-end collision. The crash may cause a disc to move out of place, tear, or even rupture.
Back strain or sprain
A back strain is an injury to the tendons or muscles in the back. The tendons or muscles may pull, tear, or twist. A back sprain is an injury to the soft tissue and ligaments in the back.
Spinal fracture
If a rear-end collision occurs at high speed, a spinal fracture can result. This injury involves a break-in of at least one of the vertebrae of the spine.
Duration of Back Pain After a Rear-End Collision
The length of time for which you experience back pain after a rear-end collision will depend on the type of injury you’re dealing with and how quickly you receive treatment. The auto accident injury experts at Florida Spine & Injury Institute of Lakeland can diagnose your injury and develop a treatment plan for your recovery.
In the case of whiplash, back pain can last for days, weeks, or months. However, in severe cases, pain from whiplash can stick around for years. This is why it’s crucial to receive treatment ASAP.
These are the average recovery times for the listed back injuries, but results can vary from patient to patient. To ensure that you make the fastest recovery possible after an auto accident, contact us for an evaluation.
