Causes of Chronic Pain after a Car Crash

Of the roughly 2 million rear-end collisions in the United States every year, a substantial number of people find themselves dealing with long-term pain and disability. Some research indicates that 1 out of 5 people are still in pain 12 months after a collision.

Dr. Spiropoulos sees many car crash patients in our Moon Township office, and we oftentimes see individuals who have been hurting for many years and have not been able to find relief. Dr. Spiropoulos has great success in helping these patients.

The Cause of Chronic Pain

During a collision, the tissues of your spinal column can be stretched or torn. The damaged area becomes swollen and irritated and transmits pain impulses to the spinal cord and brain.

Pain tells your nervous system that something is wrong, which tells the muscle tissues in the injured area to contract to shield the area from further harm.

If the damage isn't treated right away, a negative cycle develops. The damaged tissues keep sending pain signals and each time, your central nervous system reacts. This brings about a feedback loop in your nervous system that specialists refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system actually becomes hypersensitive to any kind of stimulus, producing chronic pain.

Dr. Spiropoulos is able to help this kind of condition, as chiropractic is a proven way to restore the nervous system's healthy functioning. Research shows that chiropractic is successful at reducing pain from auto injuries and shows that chiropractic in fact has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Moon Township and have been in a crash, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. Spiropoulos a call today at (724) 513-0521 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.