Back Pain After a Car Accident?

What you're feeling

Maybe the collision seemed minor. The bumper is dented, the insurance calls have started, and now your back aches every time you get out of the car. Many people feel fine at the scene, then wake a day or two later with a deep ache across the low back, a sharp catch when they twist, or stiffness that makes a desk chair feel unbearable. That delay is normal: adrenaline masks pain, and inflammation builds gradually over the first few days.

What it usually means

A rear-end or side-impact collision whips your spine through a violent range of motion in a fraction of a second. Muscles strain, ligaments sprain, and the small joints of the spine can be jarred out of healthy alignment. Most people call this whiplash and picture the neck, but the same forces travel through the mid and lower back. Left alone, the body often heals around a spine that is still misaligned, which is how a "minor" accident becomes chronic back pain months later.

When it's urgent

Some symptoms after an accident need an emergency room, not a chiropractor. Call 911 or go to the ER right away if you notice:

• Numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or loss of bladder or bowel control
• Leg weakness that is getting worse
• Severe or worsening headache, confusion, or repeated vomiting
• Chest pain, trouble breathing, or severe abdominal pain

Once emergencies have been ruled out, lingering aches and stiffness deserve a careful spinal evaluation.

How SpinalWorks evaluates it

Dr. Steve Van Laecken DC begins with an unhurried consultation: what happened, where it hurts, what has changed since the crash. A focused orthopedic and neurological exam follows, and when clinically necessary we take weight-bearing digital X-rays, which show how your spine actually carries load when you stand. Everything is documented, which matters if an insurance claim is involved. And you do not need an attorney to begin care at our clinic if you are the not-at-fault injured party.

What care looks like

Your plan is built around your injuries, not a template. Most plans begin with gentle, specific car accident chiropractic care, using posture corrective exercises, Diversified technique, and ArthroStim instrument adjusting, to restore alignment while strained tissue heals, often paired with posture and rehabilitative exercise as you recover. Results vary from person to person, and you'll always know the plan before care begins. Our clinic sits at 7th Street and Greenway Road, minutes from I-17 and SR-51. Book your evaluation or call (602) 298-1600.