Car Accident Injuries - What the Pain Usually Means, and How Chiropractic Care Can Help
- Michelle Johnson
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 12
Car accidents (whether major or minor) can leave a lasting impact on your body. Even low-speed fender benders can cause injuries that lead to chronic pain if left untreated.
At our South Jordan chiropractic clinic, we see patients every week who didn’t realize how serious their injuries were until weeks or months after the accident.
Understanding what your pain might actually mean is the first step toward real healing. Here are common post-accident symptoms and what they may be trying to tell you.
1. Neck Pain or Stiffness: Whiplash Alert!
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained in rear-end collisions. The rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck can stretch or tear muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
What it might mean:
Ligament sprains or muscle strain
Joint misalignment in the cervical spine
Possible nerve irritation
When to see a chiropractor:
If you’re experiencing headaches, limited range of motion, or persistent pain days after the accident, it’s time to get checked.
At Elite Performance Health Center, we can perform a full spinal evaluation and recommend gentle adjustments or therapies like Class IV laser treatment for soft tissue healing.
2. Lower Back Pain: Spinal Misalignment or Disc Issues
Lower back pain after a car accident often points to a spinal or muscular injury even if you didn’t feel anything immediately.
What it might mean:
Herniated or bulging discs
Muscle strain
Facet joint injuries
Don’t ignore it:
Pain in the lower back could worsen over time, especially if inflammation compresses nerves. Treatments like spinal decompression are highly effective for gently relieving pressure and encouraging healing.
3. Shoulder Pain: Seat Belt Trauma or Radiating Nerve Pain
Seat belts save lives, but they can also leave their mark. If your shoulder feels sore or bruised (or you're noticing radiating pain into your arms) there may be more going on than surface-level soreness.
What it might mean:
Rotator cuff strain
Brachial plexus nerve irritation
Referred pain from a neck injury
Chiropractic care can help correct imbalances and promote nerve function without medication or surgery.
4. Tingling, Numbness, or Shooting Pains: Possible Nerve Compression
If you’re feeling strange sensations like tingling or numbness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet, you may have a pinched nerve from spinal misalignment or a bulging disc.
What it might mean:
Sciatica
Cervical radiculopathy
Compressed or irritated spinal nerves
Don’t wait for it to “go away” because it often doesn’t. We use a combination of spine alignment treatments and advanced therapies to relieve nerve pressure safely and effectively.
5. Headaches: Could be a Bigger Issue
Post-accident headaches are common, but they’re not something to brush off.
What it might mean:
Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury
Cervicogenic headaches caused by neck trauma
Tension headaches from muscle strain
If you're dealing with daily headaches after a car accident, chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapies may help reduce the frequency and intensity of your symptoms.
Why Early Treatment Matters
You may not feel pain right away due to adrenaline and inflammation but that doesn’t mean you’re fine. Injuries often surface days or weeks later and can become chronic if untreated.
If you've been in a car accident, schedule a consultation with us at Elite Performance Health Center to get a personalized treatment plan.
Our experienced team is here to help you heal, not just mask the pain. We offer evaluations and customized care plans to address everything from whiplash to low back pain, so you can get back to living life pain-free.
📍 Serving South Jordan, Riverton, Herriman, Draper, Sandy and the greater Salt Lake area
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