What causes chronic pain after a motor vehicle accident?

Of the approximately 2 million rear-end accidents in the US every year, a significant number of people end up dealing with chronic pain and impairment. Some studies have shown that 1 out of 5 people are still in pain a year after a crash.

Drs. Matt & Annie Reyes sees many auto injury patients in our State College, PA location, and we oftentimes see individuals who have been struggling for many years and have not been able to find relief. Drs. Matt & Annie Reyes has great success in treating these patients.

The Roots of Chronic Pain

During a crash, the tissues of your spine can be stretched or torn. The damaged area becomes swollen and irritated and sends pain signals to the spinal cord and central nervous system.

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

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

Drs. Matt & Annie Reyes is able to help this kind of condition, as chiropractic care is a proven way to restore your nervous system's healthy functioning. Studies show that adjustments are 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 State College, PA and have been in a collision, you don't have to suffer with chronic pain. Give Drs. Matt & Annie Reyes a call today at (814) 308-9352 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.