Upper Back Pain After Car Accidents: What You Need to Know

The upper back runs from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage and is composed of 12 bones. Doctors refer to this area as the thoracic spine. Upper back pain can manifest itself anywhere in this region.

The upper back can be a source of immense pain for auto accident victims. Oftentimes, people describe symptoms including:

• Sharp, knifelike pain in one particular area
• Stiffness and reduced mobility in muscles, ligaments, and/or joints
• Radiating pain that ranges from dull to feeling like an electric shock
• Throbbing and discomfort in the upper back or a nearby area such as the neck
• Tingling, numbness, or weakness that spreads into the arms, chest, or stomach

Upper back injuries resulting from auto accidents can be severe. Fractured vertebrae can cause lasting complications such as chronic pain, nerve damage, and paralysis. Rear-end collisions and upper back pain are often linked. In these accidents, the head is jarred back and forth at a rapid pace, which can lead to strains and tears in muscles and ligaments. And although herniated discs are more common in the lower back, they can also occur in the upper back and lead to significant pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms and legs.

Sometimes upper back injuries are obvious and pain appears immediately following the accident. Other times, the discomfort may not develop for hours or days. In some cases, the pain increases gradually over time. For these reasons, it’s important that you undergo an evaluation for all potential injuries, even if you don’t notice anything right away.

Upper back injuries can lead to lasting damage to your body. They can also cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars in medical bills. If you were the victim in an accident, submit a free case evaluation and find out how one of our auto accident attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation to cover the costs associated with your injury.