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In 2023, Florida witnessed an alarming 394,366 traffic-related accidents. These accidents injured a total of 251,917 people and caused the deaths of 3,410 individuals.
Right after a car accident, the focus is often on cuts, bruises, and other visible injuries. But it’s important to remember that the effects of a crash can linger long after the initial shock. One of the most common, yet less obvious, consequences is upper and middle back pain after a car accident. This pain can impact your daily life, reduce mobility, disrupt sleep, and decrease overall well-being. The worst part, however, is that signs of a back injury might not show up right away — it can take days or weeks to appear.
The upper back and thoracic spine area are particularly at risk of damage – even if the car accident is minor. One of the most common types of accidents that result in upper and middle back injuries is when you are hit by a vehicle from behind.
If you feel upper and middle back pain after a car accident, see a doctor as soon as you can. Back pain gets worse if you do not treat it quickly. Plus, it can be a sign of a serious injury. It is always better to stay on the safe side and get a medical exam after an accident.
You can suffer from a wide range of upper and middle back pain after a car accident. This discomfort can range from mild injuries to serious injuries that limit mobility.
Let’s look at some of the most common causes of back pain after a car accident:
Whiplash
Car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions, are a leading cause of whiplash. Your upper body is thrown violently back and forth by the sudden impact. This rapid motion can damage the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even nerves in the cervical spine.
In fact, whiplash doesn’t just strain the neck; it also impacts the upper and middle back in several ways:
Symptoms
The pain from whiplash can manifest itself in several ways:
If you feel upper or middle back pain after a car accident, it is important to get medical attention. A doctor can determine if your pain is from whiplash or other hidden injuries.
Fractures
High-impact car accidents can cause severe injuries, like fractures, in the upper and middle back. These fractures can range from small cracks to complete breaks. Even a line fracture can result in intense pain, limited mobility, and other issues.
Several types of fractures can occur in the thoracic spine area after a car accident:
Symptoms
The symptoms of spinal fractures can show up in various ways:
Spinal fractures are serious injuries that need prompt medical treatment. Your doctor can stabilize your spine and provide treatment that can reduce complications and help you heal quickly.
Herniated Discs
You may experience upper and middle back pain after a car accident due to a herniated disc. The sudden impacts and jolts during a car accident can sometimes cause this.
Your spine is made of a stack of bones and vertebrae. These bones contain jelly-like discs between them, which help you bend your back and act as shock absorbers. A herniated disc happens when the soft core of one of these discs pushes out through a tear in the tough outer shell. This presses on nearby nerves and can lead to pain, nerve damage, and mobility issues.
Symptoms
Herniated discs can result in multiple symptoms:
If you feel persistent upper or middle back pain after a car accident, especially when the pain travels down to your arms and makes them weak, it is time to see a doctor.
Back Strains and Sprains
These are some of the most common injuries after a car accident.
Back strains occur when the muscles or tendons in the back are stretched too far or tear. Some symptoms of back strains are:
Sprains are similar to strains and involve ligaments, the tough bands that connect bones. The sudden impact of a car crash can overstretch or tear these ligaments.
Back sprains also result in many symptoms:
Some back sprains and strains can go away after some rest or simple pain management. However, serious cases may require longer treatments like medication and physical therapy. Some may even require surgery.
Facet Joints Injuries
Facet joints are small, paired joints in the spine, which connect each vertebra. These joints help your back flex and make controlled movement. Plus, they also make the spine more stable.
The sudden force or jarring motion of a car accident can damage the facet joints. Some facet joint injuries are:
Symptoms
Facet joint injuries can lead to many symptoms:
It is not easy to diagnose facet joints injury as they don’t always show up on X-rays. However, if you have chronic upper and middle back pain after a car accident, it is important you get an early diagnosis and treatment.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious causes of upper and middle back pain after a car accident. This vital cord carries messages via nerve signals between your brain and the rest of your body. Damage to the spinal cord can result in severe outcomes, like loss of sensation, paralysis, and other issues.
Spinal cord injuries may result from direct trauma. This can fracture or dislocate a vertebra which can crush or sever the spinal cord. Metal fragments and broken glass can pierce the spinal cord, which can result in serious issues. Excessive bending or twisting of the spine can stretch or tear the spinal cord, as well.
How severe your spinal cord injury is depends on the damage:
Symptoms
Symptoms of spinal cord injuries are:
While car accidents don’t cause degenerative spinal disorders, they can worsen the condition. They do this by further damaging the weak bones, discs, and joints. The trauma also sparks inflammation which compresses nerves and increases pain. Plus, it can also destabilize the spine.
Here are some disorders that can worsen and cause upper and middle back pain after a car accident:
If you have a pre-existing spinal condition and you start to experience upper and middle back pain after a car accident, do not wait! Get prompt medical care immediately.
Many people feel immediate upper and middle back pain after a car accident. However, you should also be aware that you may also have a delayed onset of pain. This means you might not feel pain immediately after a car accident. In fact, you may not feel pain after hours, days, or even weeks. But there is always a possibility that you will feel delayed pain.
There are several reasons why you may feel delayed upper and middle back pain after a car accident:
Even if you do not feel immediate upper and middle back pain after a car accident, you should get treated. An early medical checkup can help pinpoint injuries before they take a turn for the worse and help you get the treatment you need.
The duration of upper and middle back pain after a car accident can vary. This depends on how severe and extensive your injury is.
Mild Back Pain
A mild back pain can heal within 1-2 weeks. This pain may be a result of soft tissue injuries like muscle strains, sprain, or minor ligament tears. All you need is some rest and self-care to fix this issue.
Moderate Back Pain
Moderate back pain can last for several weeks or months:
Severe Back Pain
Severe back pain may be caused by injuries that may require many months or even years to heal:
Chronic Back Pain
If your back pain remains for more than three months after a car accident, it is chronic. This can be due to:
If you feel upper and middle back pain after a car accident, don’t wait for it to get worse. The sooner you address your back pain, the better chances you have of recovering fully.
If you feel upper and middle back pain after a car accident, you may be entitled to the following compensation:
Medical Bills
This includes compensation for how much you spent treating your back pain after the accident. It includes:
The more you spend treating your back pain, the more your compensation will be.
Lost Wages
If you are unable to work because of your back pain, you can get compensated for it. This includes:
Pain and Suffering
You may also get compensation for the overall hardship caused by your upper and middle back pain after a car accident. This includes:
Other Damages
Besides medical bills and lost wages, you may be entitled to other damages, as well:
There is no fixed amount for how much you get for upper and middle back pain after a car accident. This depends on how severe your injury is, how complex your case is, and whether you can prove fault.
Recovering from your injuries can be stressful enough – you don’t want to add dealing with the legal aspects of your case to the mix. This is where a personal injury lawyer in Florida can be your strong advocate.
Here’s how a personal injury lawyer in Florida can help you after an accident:
At Madalon Law, we understand the physical and emotional toll upper and middle back pain can take after a car accident. That’s why we offer:
Let our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact Madalon Law today for a free consultation.