What causes persistent pain after a car wreck?

Of the over 2 million rear-end crashes in the US each year, a significant number of people end up dealing with long-term pain and impairment. Some research shows that about 20% of people are still in pain a year after a crash.

Dr. Ernst sees many auto injury cases in our Arlington, WA office, and we regularly see people who have been suffering for many years and have not been able to find relief. Dr. Ernst has great success in treating these patients.

The Roots of Chronic Pain

During a collision, the tissues of your spinal column can be stretched or torn. The damaged area becomes swollen and irritated and transmits pain signals to the spinal cord and brain.

Pain tells your nervous system that something is wrong, which tells the muscle tissues in the damaged area to contract to protect the area from further damage.

If the injury isn't managed right away, a negative cycle develops. The hurt tissues keep sending pain signals and each time, your central nervous system reacts. This produces a feedback loop in your nervous system that researchers refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system literally becomes hypersensitive to any kind of stimulation, producing chronic pain.

Dr. Ernst is able to help this kind of problem, as chiropractic is a proven way to restore the nervous system's healthy functioning. Research shows that adjustments are successful at reducing pain from auto collisions and shows that chiropractic in fact has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Arlington, WA and have been in a crash, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. Ernst a call today at (360) 659-8464 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.