September 17, 2024
Last Updated: November 17, 2025
Medical Reviewer: Carlie Brush, DC

Back Pain After a Car Accident: When to Get Treatment

Being in a car accident is a jarring experience, and it is very common to feel pain in your neck or back afterward. Even low-speed impact collisions can transfer a surprising amount of force to your spine, resulting in car accident injuries that may not hurt until hours or days later.

That’s why knowing when and where to seek professional medical treatment is critical. If you are dealing with back pain after a car accident, getting immediate care protects your health and ensures you get the full support you need for your recovery.

How Long Can Your Back Hurt After a Car Accident?

The time it takes to recover from a car accident injury can vary widely. Understanding the three phases of recovery can help you set realistic expectations for your healing journey.  

Acute Phase (0–4 Weeks)

This phase begins immediately after the crash. You may have severe pain, muscle spasms and restricted movement. The goal here is to manage the pain and keep the injury stable. With prompt attention, people with minor strains and sprains feel much better in about four weeks.  

Subacute Phase (4–12 Weeks)

As the initial swelling goes down, pain typically lessens, although daily life may still be affected. You may begin physical therapy to regain strength and flexibility. With treatment, moderate injuries, such as sprains, strains, whiplash and bone fractures, can heal completely during this phase.  

Chronic Phase (Beyond 12 Weeks)

If your pain continues for more than three months, it is considered chronic. Management at this stage focuses on specialized care and improving your quality of life, even if some discomfort lasts a while.  

Can a Car Accident Cause Permanent Back Pain?

While many injuries heal, pain that lasts beyond 12 weeks – the Chronic Phase – may require long-term management. Pain in this phase can sometimes be due to changes in how your nerves and brain process pain, even after the physical injury has healed.  

If your pain lasts this long, your doctor will adjust your treatment plan to focus on specialized pain management strategies and continued physical therapy to improve your function.  

Common Back Injuries from a Car Accident

The force of a car accident can cause damage to muscles, discs and the small facet joints that connect your backbones. Some common car accident injuries to the spine include:  

• Whiplash: Although most often associated with neck pain, whiplash can cause stiffness and pain that reaches into the upper back and shoulders.  
• Herniated discs: Disc herniation occurs when the cushions (discs) between the bones of the spine (vertebrae) are damaged. The material can push out or bulge, causing pain and inflammation, which sometimes leads to pain that travels down your arm or leg.  
• Lumbar spine sprains and strains: These are tears or stretches in the ligaments, tendons and muscles of the lower back (lumbar spine). While common, they can cause significant pain and muscle spasms.  
• Facet joint injuries: Trauma to the small joints in the back that link the vertebrae (facet joints) can lead to pain, limited motion and sometimes a change in posture.  
• Spinal fracture: In severe cases, the impact collision can cause a spinal fracture (broken bone) or lead to a narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis) over time.  

When to Seek Treatment: The Danger of Delayed Pain

It is extremely important to see a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel fine immediately after the crash. When you are in a traumatic event like a crash, your body releases adrenaline, which acts as a powerful, temporary pain blocker. This means serious, hidden injuries may not start hurting until hours or even days later.

Seeking immediate medical attention is crucial for two main reasons:

1. Health: Prompt care ensures hidden injuries, like internal issues or concussions, are diagnosed before they worsen.
2. Documentation: A visit to Complete Care allows us to create a clear, undeniable record that links your injury after a car crash directly to the accident. Waiting even a few days can make it harder for you to get the financial help you need for treatment.  

When Should I See Someone for Back Pain After a Car Accident?

Complete Care is here to provide fast, thorough evaluation and treatment for symptoms that require prompt attention but don’t need an emergency room visit. Please seek care at Complete Care if you experience:

• Persistent or worsening back pain that limits your daily activities but isn’t sudden or incapacitating
• Mild to moderate stiffness, soreness or muscle aches that develop within days after the accident
• Tingling or numbness that is infrequent or occurs in one area but does not occur with sudden weakness
• Minor sprains, bruises or soft tissue injuries without signs of severe trauma
• Concerns about your recovery or questions about managing your symptoms safely at home

Getting the Right Diagnosis

If you have a suspected back injury, your doctor may use specialized imaging tests to get a clear picture of the damage:

• X-rays: This is often the first test to look at bones. X-rays show fractures, dislocations or alignment issues in the cervical spine (neck and upper back) and lumbar spine. 
• CT scans: These provide more detailed images than an X-ray and can show soft tissues and herniated discs.  
• MRI: Like a CT scan, an MRI can show more detailed images than an X-ray and help doctors diagnose soft tissue injuries and herniated discs. It can also find problems that may not show up on a CT scan.

Treatment Pathways for Back Pain Recovery

Most back pain can be treated effectively without surgery using treatments such as:  

• Chiropractic care: Adjustments can help restore proper alignment and mobility to the spine.  
• Injections: Targeted injections that contain numbing agents and steroids can reduce inflammation and pain that lasts. Doctors may use injections to treat pain, so you can go to physical therapy with less discomfort.
• Medication management: This includes simple over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce swelling or prescribed medicines to stop muscle spasms or nerve pain.  
• Therapy: Physiotherapy or physical therapy can strengthen the muscles that support your spine, improve flexibility and help reduce strain on facet joint injuries.  

Don’t ignore your pain. Prompt diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan are the best ways to prevent your injury after a car accident from turning into a long-term problem.

Request an appointment to experience our personalized auto injury care at a location near you. Or call (844) 699-2273 to speak with someone today.

More about the Medical Reviewer of this Article

Carlie Brush, DC

Clinical Director

Poinciana, South Semoran, Waterford Lakes

Clinical Operations Manager

Brandon, Clermont, Colonialtown, Davenport, Hunter’s Creek, Lakeland, Maitland, Metrowest, Poinciana, Plant City, St. Cloud, South Semoran, Temple Terrace, Town N Country, Waterford Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Winter Haven

Carlie Brush, DC serves as a Clinical Director at Complete Care, providing leadership, mentorship and guidance to chiropractic providers to ensure high standards of clinical excellence. Previously, Dr. Brush served as a Chiropractor at Complete Care’s Winter Haven clinic, where she helped hundreds of patients recover from auto accident injuries through attentive and compassionate care. 

Education 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences, Palmer College of Chiropractic 
• Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic 

Certifications 

• Licensed Chiropractic Physician, State of Florida