Chiropractic Care Can Help Thoracic Spine Injury After a Car Accident

Just as car accidents vary, so do accident-related injuries. How badly one is injured or what injury is sustained during a car crash depends to a large extent on the severity of collision as well as other factors, such as type of vehicle, size of the car, etc.

Back injuries become a major cause of worry after a car accident. Statistics show that it is the back that bears the brunt of a collision. Back pain can be life altering, with victims having difficulty walking, sitting, lying down, and even trouble carrying out their regular daily activities.

That pain in your back after a car accident could be due to several reasons. Is it a whiplash that is causing back pain or is it the injury to the spine that is leading to numbness and tingling or is it a thoracic spine injury that is making it difficult to breathe?

To determine the cause it is important you immediately visit a car accident chiropractor near you for a complete evaluation. Delaying a check-up can worsen your injury and also damage your chances of getting a fair compensation.

What Is The Thoracic Spine?

The spinal column that extends from the skull to the pelvis consists of 33 individual bones called vertebrae. These vertebrae are stacked on top of each other to form the column. Within the column runs the spinal cord and many nerves.

The vertebrae of the spinal column also serve as a base for attachment of ligaments, tendons, and muscles of the back. The spinal column also supports the head, chest, and shoulders, provides flexibility and mobility, along with protecting several internal organs in the body.

There are five parts of the spinal column — cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, coccyx. Any of these five parts can be injured during a car accident. In this article we will look at thoracic spine injuries and how chiropractic care can help in their treatment and recovery.

The thoracic spine stretches from the upper to the middle portion of the back. Since the rib cage is attached to the thoracic vertebrae, its range of motion is limited. The thoracic spine has 12 vertebrae, T1 through T12.

The upper part of the thoracic spine helps you breathe because it controls the rib cage, lungs, and diaphragm. The lower part of the thoracic spine helps with balance and posture.

All this to say that when you injure your thoracic spine during a car collision, you can be in serious trouble and will require immediate medical attention. Any delay in injury evaluation and treatment can lead to severe consequences and even affect your quality of life.

Symptoms of Thoracic Spine Injury

Injury to your thoracic spine will affect your back muscles, abdominal muscles, as well as nerves of the upper and mid back. Since the thoracic spine connects to the cervical spine at the top and the lumbar spine at the bottom, any injury to it leads to pain and discomfort in these areas too.

Some of the symptoms that suggest a thoracic spine injury, include:

• Pain in the upper and mid back
• Numbness or tingling
• Difficulty breathing
• Radiating pain to the extremities
• Difficulty with bowel and bladder control
• Problem with posture and balance

Sometimes it may take a few days to even weeks for a thoracic spine injury to become apparent. To prevent such a situation, it is best to get to a car accident doctor immediately after a car crash. Waiting it out can worsen the condition and lengthen the recovery time.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Heal Thoracic Spine Injury

The first and foremost aim of a chiropractor treating a thoracic car accident injury will be to reduce pain and inflammation at the trauma site. Also, chiropractors are specialized at diagnosing and treating accident-related injuries. If you see one right after a car accident, there is a higher chance of you recovering faster and better than if you delay a complete evaluation.

The chiropractic care regimen for a thoracic spine injury could include some or all of the following:

• Spinal manipulation and adjustments
• Heat or ice of injury site
• Traction
• Ergonomic training
• Specific stretches and exercises
• Electrical stimulation

Sometimes your chiropractor may also recommend a few nutritional supplements. Dietary changes may also be suggested to help with pain and weight loss. To effectively manage your pain and provide good healing results, your chiropractor will ask you to maintain regular chiropractic visits. Missing sessions may not produce results as expected.

Spine injuries are serious and along with pain can lead to immobilization as well as problems with breathing. Never postpone a visit to a car accident clinic. Also, never self-diagnose. Let a chiropractor judge the extent of your injury and decide what treatment you will require. Since chiropractic does not involve any invasive procedures nor are any drugs or medications administered