Between the vertebrae in your spine, you have rings of squishy cartilage. Sometimes one of these rings can slip to the side or bulge out the side. This is known as a herniated disc, or slipped disc, and it's a rather common injury to have after a car crash. How do you know whether you have a slipped disc, and what should you do about it? Take a look.
Diagnosing a Slipped Disc After a Car Crash
Back pain after a car crash is quite common. Not all instances of back pain are due to a slipped disc. Sometimes, the soreness and tightness could just be due to a muscular injury. If your back pain lingers for more than two or three days, especially if it seems to be getting worse instead of better, then it is time to consider the possibility that you have a slipped disc.
Other signs that point to a slipped disc being the cause of your post-accident back pain include:
If you suspect you have a herniated disc, you should make an appointment with a chiropractor. They can arrange to have x-rays or other images taken of your spine, which will allow them to make a diagnosis.
Managing a Slipped Disc
Once you are diagnosed with a slipped disc, your chiropractor will recommend a specialized treatment protocol. Usually, this protocol will involve spinal adjustments once a week, or even several times per week at first. Adjusting the spine takes the pressure off the disc and allows the disc to slowly move back into its regular position.
Your chiropractor may also use laser therapy to help ease the tension in the muscles of your back. As the muscles relax, they stop pulling on the disc, which helps it slip back into place.
Finally, your chiropractor may recommend some stretches and exercises to do at home. You may also be told to apply an ice pack to your back periodically; this will help reduce the swelling and pain when it's at its worst.
Slipped discs are a common part of most auto accident treatments. Recovery can take a while, but under the care of a good chiropractor, you can be back to yourself within 6 months to a year.
Share25 June 2020
Children are energetic and busy little people, and it is important that health needs are carefully monitored as they grow. That is where regular visits to a chiropractor are beneficial. A visit to a chiropractor helps your child's health in many ways. From checking spine growth, correcting posture, minimising sports injuries and treating back pain caused by sitting at the school desk, these are all subjects discussed within these blog posts as they are all areas where a chiropractor helps your family. Just like taking your child to their doctor and dentist, an annual visit with a chiropractor helps your child to grow up stronger with less growing pains.