What causes chronic pain after a motor vehicle accident?

Of the approximately 2 million rear-end collisions in the United States annually, a substantial number of people find themselves enduring chronic pain and disability. Some research shows that about 20% of people are still in pain 12 months after an accident.

Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda sees many accident patients in our Henderson, NV office, and we often see patients who have been suffering for many years and have not been able to find help. Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda has great success in helping these patients.

The Roots of Chronic Pain

During a crash, the structures of your spinal column can be stretched or torn. The injured area becomes swollen and inflamed and transmits pain impulses to the spinal cord and central nervous system.

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

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

Dr. Russell and Dr. Janda is able to help this kind of problem, as chiropractic is a proven way to restore the nervous system's healthy functioning. Research shows that chiropractic is successful at relieving pain from car crashes 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.