Where the pain shows up
Patients describe pain in the lower back most often, but mid-back and upper-back complaints are also common, particularly where seat belts and seat backs transmit force. Pain may be localized, or it may radiate into the buttock, hip or leg.
Stiffness in the morning, pain with sitting or driving, and discomfort when lifting or bending are frequent complaints after a collision.
What the evaluation looks at
- Mechanism of the collision and seating position
- Symptom onset, pattern and aggravating movements
- Range of motion and spinal palpation findings
- Neurological testing including strength, reflexes and sensation
- Prior back problems, surgeries and current medications
- Whether diagnostic imaging is indicated
Treatment planning
If treatment is indicated, options may include conservative care and activity modification, medication management when medically appropriate, coordination with physical therapy, or interventional pain management procedures when diagnosis and examination support them.
Your physician will explain what each option is intended to address. Outcomes vary between patients, and no approach is guaranteed to eliminate pain.
Red-flag symptoms
Go to an emergency department immediately for new weakness in the legs, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever with back pain, or severe pain following a high-energy crash.
If this is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Severe headache, loss of consciousness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, weakness or uncontrolled bleeding require immediate emergency care.