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Vehicle and Automobile Accidents

• Reducing The Impact of A Whiplash Injury
• Car Accident Injuries: Neck Pain
• Multi-Truck Accident in Susquehanna County Results in Hospitalization
• Repeat Offender Facing DUI Charges After Accident Lands Passenger in Hospital
• Driver Strikes Mother and Daughter in School Crossing Zone

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Car Accident Injuries: Neck Pain

Car accident neck injuries can result in symptoms such as: pain in your neck, headaches, pain in your shoulders, arms or hands, reduced range of motion in your neck, numbness, weakness, and slower reflexes in your arms and hands muscle spasms in your neck.

Most Common Types of Car Accident Neck Injuries

Neck Sprain - When ligaments are stretched or torn in the neck, the result is a neck sprain, which can cause pain and stiffness.

Neck Strain - When neck muscles are stretched or torn, a neck strain results. Sometimes they are referred to as "pulled muscles." They usually occur when the muscles are suddenly and powerfully contracted or when they stretch unusually far. Other names for neck sprains and neck strains are: "hyperflexion/hyperextention injuries", or most commonly, "whiplash".

Cervical Radiculopathy (pinched nerve) - Cervical nerves leave the spinal cord in the cervical pine area and travel down into the arm. Along the way, the nerves supply feeling to a part of the skin of the shoulder and arm and supply electrical signals to certain muscles to move part of the arm or hand. When a nerve is irritated or pinched, by either a bone spur or a fragment of a herniated (ruptured) disc it then cases the nerve not to work properly. This can lead to weakness in the muscles the nerve goes to, numbness in the skin where the nerve goes, or pain in the area where the nerve travels.

Herniated Disc - When neck motion puts too much pressure on a disc, a herniated disc may result. Sometimes these are called "slipped discs" or "ruptured discs". In this injury, the annulus is torn and part of the nucleus pulposus squeezes out of the center of the disc. If the tear is on the side of the disc next to the spinal canal, the nucleus pulposus can press against the spinal nerves. This pressure can cause pain, numbness, and weakness along the nerve.

There is also evidence that the chemicals released from the ruptured disc may irritate the nerve root, leading to some of the symptoms of a herniated disc, especially pain.

Neck pain after a car accident can be serious and in many cases requires significant rehabilitative efforts. In the most serious cases, there can be permanent impact leading to decreased quality of life, reduced work capacity and other negative side effects.

If you suffer serious neck pain as a result of a motor vehicle accident that was not your fault, consider contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer for a case evaluation.