How Car Accidents Can Cause Spinal Disc Herniations and What You Can Do About It

When most people think about car accidents, whiplash is usually the first injury that comes to mind. But there’s another serious and often overlooked consequence: disc herniations. These injuries can cause intense, radiating pain and long-term mobility issues if not properly treated.

What Happens to Your Spine During a Rear-End Collision

Your spine has natural curves designed to absorb and distribute force. During a rear-end accident, your body is suddenly pushed against your seat, causing these spinal curves to straighten. This rapid change stretches and compresses the spine at the same time.

That pressure is often transferred to the discs between your vertebrae. Inside each disc is a jelly-like center. Under enough force, that center can rupture through the outer layer of the disc and press against nearby spinal nerves. This is what creates sharp, radiating pain down the leg or arm.

Symptoms of a Disc Herniation After a Car Wreck

• Shooting pain in the arm or leg

• Tingling or numbness

• Muscle weakness

• Limited mobility in the neck or lower back

These symptoms may not appear right away. Some people develop them days or even weeks after the accident.

How Chiropractors Help Treat Disc Herniations Without Surgery

Some chiropractic offices specialize in treating disc herniations through a combination of therapies—not just spinal adjustments. In our practice, we use spinal decompression therapy to help pull the herniated portion of the disc back into place, allowing the disc to begin healing.

Our disc treatment process includes:

• Spinal decompression or flexion-distraction therapy

• Gentle, targeted chiropractic adjustments

• Spinal and core strengthening exercises

• Progress tracking through imaging when necessary

We’ve seen success firsthand. Pre- and post-treatment MRIs from our patients have shown real improvement, with the herniation shrinking and symptoms reducing dramatically.

Why Spinal Strengthening Is Essential to Long-Term Recovery

One of the most important parts of disc rehabilitation is core stabilization. If the core muscles are not retrained, improvements may be short-lived. But with proper strengthening, patients often experience lasting relief.

In fact, a published study followed patients who had suffered from disc herniation pain for an average of five years. After receiving chiropractic care and core strengthening similar to our approach, 90 percent of patients experienced a 77 percent average improvement. One year later, 80 percent of them still reported major improvement.

J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2009 (Nov);   32 (9):   723–733

Avoiding Surgery After a Disc Injury

Surgery is not always the best or only option. If you or someone you know is struggling with pain from a disc herniation or a recent car accident, consider a consultation with a chiropractor experienced in treating disc-related injuries.