Causes of Chronic Pain after Car Crashes

Of the roughly 2 million rear-end collisions in the United States each year, a substantial number of people find themselves troubled with long-term pain and disability. Some research indicates that 18% of people are still in pain a year after a collision.

Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda sees many car crash patients in our Henderson, NV office, and we frequently see people who have been hurting for many years and have not been able to find help. Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda has great success in treating these patients.

The Cause of Chronic Pain

During a collision, the tissues of your spinal column can be stretched or torn. The injured area becomes swollen and irritated 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 addressed immediately, a negative cycle develops. The damaged area keeps sending pain signals and each time, your nervous system responds. This brings about a feedback loop in your nervous system that experts refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system essentially becomes oversensitive to any kind of stimulus, triggering chronic pain.

Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda is able to help this kind of issue, as chiropractic care is a proven way to restore the nervous system's healthy functioning. Research shows that adjustments are successful at relieving pain from car accidents and shows that chiropractic actually has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Henderson, NV and have been in a crash, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda a call today at (702) 990-2225 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.