Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are almost always injured in a car accident. Sprains or strains are considered soft tissue injuries and can cause pain that can linger for weeks and even months.
About lumbar strain and sprains
A lumbar strain is an injury to the lower back. It is an injury to the tendon or muscles, whereas a sprain is the stretching of a ligament.
Lumbar Back Strain
It involves overstretching of muscles and/or tendons in the lower back. If you suffer pain and limited range of motion for more than three months, the injury will be categorized as a chronic condition. Some common symptoms of a lumbar back strain include sore aching back, limited range of motion when twisting or bending at the hips, and pain and muscle spasms that radiate into the thigh, groin or buttock areas.
Lumbar Back Sprain
A lumbar back sprain involves ligament damage in the lower back. Car accidents often cause the ligaments in the lower back to stretch and tear. Some common symptoms include aching or sharp lower back pain, stiffness/tenderness/weakness in the lower back, swelling or bruising in the lower back, sudden flare-ups of severe pain, loss of flexibility or mobility, or muscle weakness.
Soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains are not visible on imaging scans like X-ray and MRI, yet they cause considerable pain and discomfort. Whenever a car accident patient reports to an emergency room with symptoms of lumbar sprain or strain, the doctors will just do an X-ray to ensure that the victim has not suffered a bone or a vertebral fracture. If the X-rays come out clean, but the patient still complains of pain and other symptoms, the doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatory medication, painkillers, and muscle relaxers.
Doctors may even recommend rest, but it is known to be counterproductive because when sprains and strains heal, they leave scar tissue, making the muscle less flexible and weaker and prone to further injuries. Physical therapy, light stretching, and strengthening exercises can help regain muscle strength and flexibility.
Recovering compensation for lumbar sprain/strain
Soft tissue back injuries can be extremely painful and cause significant discomfort. Serious lower back injuries often require ongoing medical treatment. A long-lasting lumbar injury can result in huge ongoing medical expenses, missed work, chronic pain, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you have suffered a lumbar sprain or strain in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for all of your losses. However, back injury claims are often highly complex and take a long time to resolve. It’s important that you contact a competent and highly experienced St. Louis car wreck lawyer who can fight for your rights.
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