Causes of Chronic Pain after Car Crashes

Of the over 2 million rear-end crashes in the United States annually, a substantial number of folks find themselves experiencing long-term pain and impairment. Some research indicates that 18% of people are still in pain 12 months after a collision.

Robert C Slater, DC sees many auto accident cases in our Highland Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota location, and we regularly see patients who have been hurting for many years and have not been able to find help. Robert C Slater, DC has great success in treating these patients.

The Roots of Chronic Pain

During a crash, the ligaments of your neck and back can be stretched or torn. The damaged area becomes swollen and inflamed and transmits pain signals 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 damaged area to contract to protect the area from further trauma.

If the damage isn't addressed immediately, a negative cycle develops. The damaged tissues keep sending pain signals and each time, your central nervous system reacts. This creates a feedback loop in your nervous system that specialists refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system actually becomes oversensitive to any kind of stimulus, triggering chronic pain.

Robert C Slater, DC is able to help this kind of issue, as chiropractic is a proven way to restore your nervous system's healthy functioning. Studies show that chiropractic is successful at reducing pain from auto collisions and shows that chiropractic in fact has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Highland Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota and have been in a crash, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Robert C Slater, DC a call today at (651) 699-3366 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.