What causes chronic pain after a car crash?

Of the roughly 2 million rear-end crashes in the US every year, a significant number of people find themselves dealing with chronic pain and impairment. Some studies have shown that about 20% of people are still in pain a year after a collision.

Dr. Moses Ogbemudia sees many accident patients in our Capitol Hill, Washington DC location, and we frequently see people who have been hurting for many years and have not been able to find relief. Dr. Moses Ogbemudia has great success in helping these patients.

The Roots of Chronic Pain

During an accident, the structures of your spine can be stretched or torn. The damaged area becomes swollen and irritated and sends pain impulses to the spine 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 damage.

If the damage isn't treated right away, a negative cycle develops. The hurt tissues keep sending pain signals and each time, your nervous system responds. This creates a feedback loop in your nervous system that researchers refer to as "central sensitization." Your nervous system literally becomes oversensitive to any kind of stimulation, causing chronic pain.

Dr. Moses Ogbemudia is able to help this kind of problem, as chiropractic care is a proven way to restore the nervous system's healthy functioning. Studies show that chiropractic is successful at reducing pain from auto injuries and shows that chiropractic in fact has positive effects on the pain centers of the brain.

If you live in Capitol Hill, Washington DC and have been in a collision, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Dr. Moses Ogbemudia a call today at (202) 546-2000 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.