Common Neck Sprain Symptoms Following a Texarkana Car Accident

Car Accidents Commonly Cause Neck Injuries

Trauma in a car accident can cause many injuries ranging from internal injuries, broken bones, concussions, and very commonly sprains to the neck, back, and extremities.

The sudden force of a car accident causes major forces and changes in movement of one body part relative to another. The movements suddenly place serious forces on the soft connective tissues that support the joints of our bodies.

The neck is especially susceptible because of it’s structure, mobility, and position in the car.

When our bodies are seat belted, our necks are still free to move… and move it does when we’re hit by another vehicle. Unbelted, we can experience even more serious issues.

The neck is suddenly thrown violently in the vehicle. This results in stretching and tearing of ligaments and other soft tissues that connect bones in our necks.

Other tissues are compressed and forced into abnormal positions.

This happens very quickly, so quickly our bodies can’t control the movements.

Neck Sprains

This type of injury is called a neck sprain.

It’s a common cause of neck pain and stiffness after an auto accident.

Common Neck Sprain Symptoms

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports some of the more common symptoms of neck sprain are:

• Neck Pain This is often at the back of the neck. The pain often increases with movements. Neck pain may not occur until a day or several days after an accident.
• Neck Stiffness Reduced ability to bend, twist, and move your neck from side to side.
• Headache Post accident headaches are often related to a neck injury. The pain may be at the back of the head and neck and/or around the sides of the head. The TMJ can also be injured and cause headaches after a trauma.
• Arm and Shoulder Symptoms Neck injuries may cause pain, numbness, tingling and/or weakness into the shoulder area and even down the arm.
• Cognitive Symptoms These types of problems may indicate a neck injury and/or a head injury. These symptoms may include problems with sleep, concentration, fatigue, irritability, short term memory loss, and mood.

Neck Sprains versus Neck Strains

What’s the difference between a sprain and a strain?

A neck sprain is damage to ligaments that are connective tissues which keep bones in place relative to one another.

A neck strain is injury to the muscles of the neck that describes stretching and tearing of this different type of soft tissue.

Other Neck Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Neck sprains and strains are common, but so are many other types of injuries when involved in a car accident. Some of these can be very severe. The other tissues that are commonly injured include:

• The intervertebral discs which sit between the vertebrae and act as a type of cushion between the bones.
• The spinal cord which is a communication channel between your brain and body can be damaged.
• The nerve roots and nerves can also be injured.

The forces of a car accident are often so great that many different parts of your neck and body are injured and not just one.

This is why it’s so important to get checked out by an experienced Chiropractor that understands how to properly evaluate all the possible injuries and can offer treatment that will give you the greatest chance of returning as close to normal as possible after your injuries.

This is why so many people see a Chiropractor after a neck sprain or whiplash injury in Texarkana.

Dr. Hagebusch has helped thousand’s of Texarkana are residents recover from neck injuries from car accidents, if you would like to see Dr. Hagebusch to find out how he can help you, contact us.

We’re here to help!