Experiencing a car accident is incredibly stressful. Aside from auto damage and financial strain, such incidents can cause significant harm to your body, particularly leading to neck pain.

The most common injuries after an automobile accident are cervical spine injuries. The anatomy of the cervical spine can be compromised very easily, which is why car accidents wreak havoc on your neck.

Here are just a few of the most common ways that your neck can be affected by a car accident.

1. Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries seen after a car accident. It usually occurs as the result of rear-end accidents, which cause the driver’s neck to snap backwards and forwards. Because it affects the cervical spinal anatomy, whiplash can lead to neck pain, stiffness and headaches.

2. Disc Herniation

The discs between your vertebrae absorb a great deal of stress in an auto accident. This can cause the discs to actually shift out of place, resulting in disc herniation.

Cervical disc herniation can compress the surrounding nerves in your neck, causing numbness, tingling and other symptoms.

3. Spondylolisthesis of the Neck

Spondylolisthesis is similar to disc herniation, but it occurs when the actual vertebrae shift out of place due to a stress fracture in the bone. This can put pressure on the surrounding cervical nerves, leading to numbness and even trouble walking.

4. Spinal Fracture

When a car accident occurs, your seatbelt keeps the bottom half of your body in place, but it does not restrain your head and neck. This means that your head and neck experience a lot of forceful movement, which can result in a spinal fracture.

Spinal fractures can lead to muscle weakness, stiffness and many other symptoms.

5. Chiari Malformation

Chiari malformation is a congenital neurological disorder in which the bottom portion of the brain, the cerebellum, extends downward into the spinal column. Since this disorder is congenital, it cannot be caused by a car accident, but can certainly be worsened by one.

The impact of the accident can cause the cerebellum to extend further down into the spinal column, causing a long list of symptoms, like headaches, dizziness, and even trouble breathing.

6. Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is not typically caused by an accident, but can be worsened by one. Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, which occurs in many people as they age. You may not even know you have spinal stenosis until you are in an accident and begin experiencing symptoms like pain, stiffness, and trouble walking.

Relieve Your Pain with Veeva Chiropractic Clinic

If you’ve been in an auto accident that has resulted in a neck injury, turn to Veeva Chiropractic Clinic for your cervical care. We can provide the perfect treatments and therapy options for your neck injury, getting you back on track in no time. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment!