Causes of Chronic Pain after a Car Crash

Of the over 2 million rear-end collisions in the US annually, a substantial number of folks end up troubled with long-term pain and disability. Some studies have shown that 18% of people are still in pain a year after an accident.

Dr. Robert Ramsey sees many auto accident cases in our Gresham, OR office, and we frequently see people who have been struggling for many years and have not been able to find help. Dr. Robert Ramsey has great success in helping these patients.

The Cause of Chronic Pain

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

Pain tells your body that something is wrong, which tells the muscles in the injured area to contract to protect the area from further harm.

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

Dr. Robert Ramsey is able to help this kind of issue, as chiropractic is a proven way to restore your nervous system's healthy functioning. Research shows that chiropractic is successful at reducing pain from car accidents and shows that chiropractic actually has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Gresham, OR and have been in a collision, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. Robert Ramsey a call today at (503) 667-6744 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.