What causes long-term pain after a car crash?

Of the roughly 2 million rear-end accidents in the United States annually, a substantial number of folks end up dealing with long-term pain and impairment. Some research shows that 1 out of 5 people are still in pain one year after an accident.

Dr. William Palmer sees many accident patients in our Depew / Lancaster office, and we regularly see individuals who have been suffering for many years and have not been able to find relief. Dr. William Palmer has great success in treating these patients.

The Roots of Chronic Pain

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

Pain tells your nervous system that something is wrong, which tells the muscle tissues in the damaged area to contract to protect the area from further injury.

If the damage isn't addressed immediately, a negative cycle develops. The hurt tissues keep sending pain signals and each time, your nervous system responds. This creates a feedback loop in your nervous system that specialists refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system literally becomes hypersensitive to any kind of stimulation, producing chronic pain.

Dr. William Palmer is able to help this kind of condition, as chiropractic care is a proven way to restore your nervous system's healthy functioning. Studies show that chiropractic is successful at reducing pain from auto injuries and shows that chiropractic actually has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Depew / Lancaster and have been in a crash, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. William Palmer a call today at (716) 668-2225 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.