Whether you have a rear-end collision, you hit a car head-on, or someone sideswipes your vehicle, you could experience an injury in any type of car accident. One of the most common vehicular accident injuries is back injuries. Fortunately, you can visit an orthopedist, such as Dr. Manuel Martinez or Dr. Jeffrey Roberts of Orthopedic Associates in Avon, Ohio, who can find a treatment plan to help you recover. When you choose a knowledgeable and caring practitioner, you’ll have a positive experience and receive a great outcome.
Types of Back Injuries from Car Accidents
When you get into a car accident, you could develop a sprain, strain, spinal cord injury, fracture, soft tissue tear, or fracture, just to name a few examples.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when you have a tear in the shell of a spinal disc. As a result, the nucleus (the center of the disc) pushes through the tear.
The contents of the disc can irritate the nearby nerves, which will lead to numbness, pain, and weakness in various parts of the body. Many people don’t have any symptoms of a herniated disc. However, sometimes, these nerve-related symptoms can extend to your legs and arms, depending on the location of the disc.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury happens when you have compression on or damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord injury could be complete or incomplete, referring to the severity of the damage done.
With either type, you are likely to lose some level of function. For instance, if it happens in the lower portion of the spinal cord, you could lose your ability to walk. Some people lose bladder or bowel control. Spinal cord injuries are considered some of the most serious injuries possible because of the drastic and long-lasting impact they have on the body.
Other Injuries
You could develop a sprain or strain during a car accident, too. A sprain occurs when you twist or stretch a ligament in your back while a strain is a damage to a muscle or tendon. You could develop a tear to a muscle, ligament, or tendon, as well. It’s also possible to fracture a vertebra from a car accident. The fracture occurs when you have a break in a bone due to too much pressure on it.
How the Good Doctor Makes the Difference
Some back injuries are rather intricate. They can leave you in permanent pain and restrict your daily activities. Often, practitioners develop a plan to reduce pain while optimizing function. Your doctor will create a course of action that allows you to move as you did before, or as close to it as possible.
With so much riding on your recovery, you need to pick the right doctor for the job. You need a practitioner who takes the time to listen to you and thoroughly assesses your symptoms. Many doctors misdiagnose back injuries because of a lack of proper testing and follow-up. This is why you need an experienced, thorough, and patient, doctor. You also need a knowledgeable physician who has a comprehensive understanding of back injuries and possible treatments.
The Right Orthopedic Doctor in Avon, OH
At Orthopedic Associates in Avon, Ohio, we have doctors who genuinely care about patients and practice with the utmost level of compassion. Our doctors have a lot of experience treating car accident patients. They focus on treatments that promote recovery rather than just managing or masking symptoms.
Book an appointment with Orthopedic Associates, serving Avon, Westlake, and the surrounding areas, for help with an injury from a car accident. We’re available by calling (440) 892-1440 or by using our online contact form.