People can get hurt in many ways in car accidents, but spine damage is one of the worst. The spinal cord is a key channel for the brain and body to communicate. If the spinal cord is injured, even small injuries can cause serious problems. It’s important to know the signs after a car accident so you can get treatment and a diagnosis as soon as possible, even if symptoms don’t appear right away.
This page goes into detail about the most common signs of a spine injury, how they relate to a spinal cord injury, and when you should see a spine specialist in Gilbert.
Understanding Spine Injuries After an Accident
When the spine is hurt, it can hurt the bones (vertebrae), discs, ligaments, or even the spinal cord. One of the main reasons people hurt their spinal cords is in car accidents, which often cause sudden impacts, twisting, or compression forces.
Injuries like herniated discs, fractures, and whiplash may not seem serious at first, but they can get worse over time if they are not treated.
1. Persistent Back or Neck Pain
Back or neck pain is one of the first and most common signs of being hurt in a car accident. Feeling pain that is sharp, dull, or spread out.
- Pain or stiffness in the neck (often a sign of whiplash)
- Feeling pain in your arms, legs, or shoulders
- More pain when walking or moving around
An injury to the spinal cord or discs could be behind the pain, or it could be a soft tissue strain.
2. Numbness, Tingling, or Loss of Sensation
It could be a nerve if you feel “pins and needles,” numbness, or less sensitivity in your limbs.
- Nerve pain in the toes, feet, hands, or fingers
- Not being able to feel hot or cold
- Some or all your senses are lost
These signs show up when the spinal cord or the nerves near it are squished or injured.
3. Weakness or Loss of Movement
It can be challenging for the brain and muscles to talk to each other after a serious spinal cord injury. This condition can make the person weak or unable to move.
- Having trouble lifting your arms or legs
- Lost coordination suddenly
- Partial or complete paralysis below the site of the injury
You might not be able to move or lift as well for a while or forever if you hurt your spinal cord.
4. Mobility Issues and Difficulty Walking
Not addressing problems with your balance or walking after an accident is never a good idea.
- Problems standing up straight
- Having trouble walking or keeping your balance
- You may feel unsteady or weak.
These issues with mobility could mean that the spinal cord is injured or that the spine is unstable.
5. Muscle Spasms or Stiffness
Another red flag is when your muscles start to contract and won’t stop.
- Back, arm, or leg spasms
- Muscles that are tight or stiff
- Less adaptability
These signs and symptoms of spinal injury often occur when nerve signals are disrupted due to spinal damage.
6. Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control
Not being able to control your body is one of the worst signs of a spine injury.
- Having trouble urinating
- Having accidents
- Not being able to control your bowels
This means you have a serious spinal cord injury and need to see a doctor right away.
7. Physical Deformity or Visible Changes
When someone hurts their back, the structure can change visibly.
- abnormal curves in the spine
- a stooped or hunched back
- Bruising or swelling that you can see
A deformity could mean the vertebrae are broken or misaligned.
8. Headaches, Dizziness, or Associated Head Injury
When there is a lot of force in an accident, spine injuries often happen at the same time as head injuries.
- Lower back pain, headaches
- Feeling dizzy or confused
- Trouble concentrating
These signs could mean that the brain and spine are hurt.
9. Difficulty Breathing
Back pain, especially in the upper part, can make it hard to breathe.
- Being unable to breathe
- Having trouble taking deep breaths
- Less lung function
This occurs when the nerves that control the lungs’ muscles are damaged.
10. Delayed Symptoms You Should Not Ignore
Some signs of injury from a car accident don’t show up right away. Some signs don’t show up for hours or even days.
- Pain getting worse over time
- Feeling stiff or sore for a long time
- Feeling numb or weak for no reason
If you get hurt in an accident, it’s important to keep an eye on your health and see a doctor, even if you feel fine.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention?
You should get medical help right away if you:
- Lots of pain in the back or neck
- Loss of feeling or movement
- Having trouble walking or standing
- Loss of control over your bladder or bowels
- Spine deformity that can be seen
These could be signs of a serious spinal cord injury that needs to be taken care of right away to keep the damage from getting worse.
Final Thoughts
There aren’t always clear signs right away after getting a spinal injury. They can be mild or so bad that they change your life.
Getting pain, numbness, or trouble moving around in the spine right away can make a big difference in how quickly they heal.
It’s important to pay attention to any signs that you might be traumatized after an accident. Any pain in the spine or spinal cord could mean there is a bigger problem. Find out what’s wrong and get treatment right away to protect your long-term health and mobility.
FAQs
What are the most common warning signs of a spine injury?
Common signs of injury to the spine include numbness, tingling, or pain that extends into your arms or legs, as well as head aches. You can also expect a decrease in your mobility range and potentially stiff neck or back pain. In the most severe situations, individuals can suffer loss of their control of bowel and bladder function, which may make walking more difficult. If any of these symptoms begin to develop, seek immediate care.
Can I have a spine injury even if I don’t feel pain right away?
Yes, you certainly can have injuries to the spine even if they do not present symptoms such as pain right after the incident has occurred. Your body often produces Adrenaline during stressful events such as a collision; which is the body’s way of shutting down the normal functions. A variety of spinal injuries can become apparent hours later as the adrenaline levels dissipate. The Adrenaline may suppress pain during initial shock, but can hide certain spinal cord injuries and even a herniated disk which becomes apparent as a persons nervous system responds. A doctor will screen for any of these hidden conditions right after the accident.
When should I go to the emergency room instead of scheduling a regular appointment?
In situations where you lose all feeling and / or control of your arms and legs; suffer from loss of bladder control or bowel movements; have serious weakness; or experience very painful nerve sensations shooting down into arms or legs, it is necessary for you to seek immediate care from an emergency room. These types of symptoms can be a sign that there has been serious damage to your spinal cord.
