When is Neck and Back Pain Serious?

Did you know that neck and back pain symptoms may not be experienced until hours after the injury, or even the next day? I know from my past experience of being in an accident that I felt okay after the accident but the next day I was in pain and wished I got checked out right away.

Your neck is composed of seven bones of the spinal column and are connected to each other by ligaments and muscles, basically strong bands of tissue that act like thick rubber bands. The muscles and ligaments hold the bones in place while the intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers cushioning your spine during movement. Basically while it may seem simple there are a lot of pieces working together back there that could get injured.

If you are lucky it is just a sprain back there which is awful but will heal with time rather than a major issue requiring surgery. Your back and neck are part of your everyday movement and connected all over your body so it is important to keep it healthy and healed.

After a physical exam, a doctor can usually diagnose the issue with an x-ray or other form of imaging test to confirm it. Most symptoms of neck sprain or strain will go away in 4 to 6 weeks. However, severe injuries may take longer to heal completely. If you were hurt at work or had an accident, a neck and back injury attorney can help you get financial help for your medical bills and loss of wages. It is definitely worth asking as bills pile up quicker than you might realize when you do not have steady income coming in.