One of the most common injuries received in any form of auto accidents are neck and back injuries. These injuries can manifest and settle in many different ways depending on the severity of the accident, but they should never be belittled, even if you feel it’s not too serious. Because of the fact that people have varying ranges of pain tolerance, physicians may feel a neck or back injury is less severe than it really is, resulting in lack of treatment, or wrong treatment all together.
An effective way that the medical field has been able to reduce the amount of misdiagnoses on neck and back injuries is through the use of MRIs, CT scans, X-Rays, bone scans and myelograms. All of these are common procedures that many patients whom are complaining of neck and/or back pain undergo. (More on those procedures) Even still, it’s possible that one could be victim of medical malpractice and should follow up accordingly.
Are you experiencing neck or back pain after an accident? In Florida, which is a “no-fault” state, you can receive medical treatment as soon as possible after an accident through a branch of auto insurance called Personal Injury Protection (PIP). If you haven’t received treatment yet, read about your rights and options through Personal Injury Protection and choose your next course of action.
There are many different neck and back injuries you could currently be suffering from after an accident, and you may be eligible for compensation if they were received due to someone’s negligence, or lack of care. Here are some of the most common types of neck injures you could currently be undergoing.
- Neck Strain or Sprain: This is by far the most common neck injury that you can receive in an accident. Symptoms can range from things less severe such as constant headaches, to things as serious as difficulties with memory or concentration due to the unbearable pain.
- Herniated Disc or Disc Herniation: Between each vertebra in your spine is a soft, rubbery, and flexible cushion called a spinal disc. Its main purpose is to absorb shock from regular motions and activities that place the spine under pressure. These discs are small and have limited blood, so any damage dealt to them can be hard for your body to repair, especially if the damage further limits the blood supplied to them. Due to an accident, it’s possible to develop a herniated disc, which is when the soft, near-liquid insides of a disc are pushed beyond the margin of the disc and create pressure on a vertebra’s cervical nerve, creating unpleasant and sometimes excruciating pain.