What causes long-term pain after a car crash?

Of the over 2 million rear-end accidents in the US every year, a substantial number of people end up suffering from chronic pain and disability. Some research indicates that about 20% of people are still in pain 12 months after a crash.

Dr. Jamie Stern sees many accident cases in our Sunnyvale, CA location, and we regularly see people who have been hurting for many years and have not been able to find relief. Dr. Jamie Stern has great success in treating these patients.

What Causes Chronic Pain after a Crash?

During a crash, the tissues of your spine can be sprained or torn. The injured area becomes swollen and inflamed and transmits pain impulses to the spinal cord and central nervous system.

Pain tells your nervous system that something is wrong, which tells the muscles in the damaged area to contract to shield the area from further trauma.

If the damage isn't treated right away, a negative cycle develops. The damaged area keeps sending pain signals and each time, your central nervous system reacts. This brings about a feedback loop in your nervous system that experts refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system actually becomes oversensitive to any kind of stimulation, causing chronic pain.

Dr. Jamie Stern 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 adjustments are effective at relieving pain from auto injuries and shows that chiropractic in fact has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Sunnyvale, CA and have been in a crash, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. Jamie Stern a call today at (415) 308-7636 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.