Since there are many different types of car accidents, there are a variety of back injuries that can occur. Here are some of the most common back injuries from car accidents.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is what helps the brain communicate with the rest of the body. If that connection is lost, partial or total paralysis may occur. Spinal injuries may either be complete (causing total paralysis and numbness in the affected part of the body) or incomplete (where some movement or sensation remains).
The higher up the spine an injury occurs, the more of the body is affected. Spinal cord injuries to the low- or mid-back area typically affect only the legs, while spinal cord injuries to the upper back or neck may affect the arms or even the ability to breathe unassisted.
Disc Injuries
Discs are spongy cushions between the vertebrae that give the spine flexibility and protect the vertebrae from each other. Car accidents can cause herniated, slipped, or ruptured discs, which are all the same injuries with different names. No matter what you call it, it’s when a disc becomes deformed, destroying its ability to cushion the vertebrae.
The damaged disc can also apply pressure to nearby nerves, causing weakness, numbness, or pain in whichever part of the body the affected nerve goes to. One example of this is sciatica, where a disc injury in the lower back causes tingling, numbness, or shooting pain down one leg.
Sprains and Strains
Back strains happen when tendons or muscles get torn or stretched in a car accident. Back sprains involve torn ligaments. Back strains and sprains can cause weakness, muscle spasms, limited mobility, and pain.
Compression Fractures
More common in older adults, compression fractures are small cracks in vertebrae. These can be caused or exacerbated by car accidents and can eventually cause the bone to deform or collapse, permanently altering the structure and shape of the spine.
Compression fracture symptoms include breathing trouble, pain, and posture changes.
Lumbar (Lower) Back Injury
Most common in side-impact crashes, lumbar injuries occur in the lower back and can dramatically impact a person’s quality of life. Effective medical treatment can be costly.
