Neck and lower back pain are quite common after car accidents. The pain may not set in immediately. You should always seek medical attention after an accident, even if you don’t feel like you’ve been hurt. You need to get checked out for injuries that can get worse and cause you problems later down the road. Proper treatment may prevent them from causing delayed pain. If not, at least you’ll have the injury documented so that you can prove it was caused by your accident when you seek compensation for any costs and losses you incur due to your injury.
Bulging or Ruptured Disc
The discs in your neck and back are the cushions between your vertebrae. They have a tough outer casing and soft gel center. When a disc is ruptured, herniated or bulging, the soft center protrudes out of its casing. It causes pain when this filing puts pressure on nearby nerves.
Facet Joint Injury
Facet joints are the joints in between your vertebrae. Facet joints are what make your neck and back flexible and what keep your spine from moving too far in any direction. They contain a lot of nerve endings, which makes facet joint injuries very painful. Facet joint injuries can cause nerve irritation that leads to spasms in nearby muscles. Facet joint muscle spasms can even force the spine out of alignment. Facet joints can become locked and not move at all.
Facet joint injury can also cause the joint to become unstable and move excessively.
Spondylolisthesis
In spondylolisthesis, one vertebra slides over the one below it. When this happens, it can squeeze the nerve roots or spinal cord, causing numbness, weakness, pain, and in severe cases loss of bowel or bladder control.
If you believe that your injuries were caused by a defective vehicle, please call the Law Offices of Eric R. Bernstein, P.C. at (212) 683-1530 today to schedule your free initial consultation.
