According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6.4 million car accidents reported to the police in 2017. The same report reveals that almost 2.3 million people were injured in car accidents in 2017. Looking at statistics like this, it’s not hard to imagine that you could be injured in a car accident. Here are two injuries that you could suffer in a car accident that could lead to post-accident arm pain:
- Brachial plexus injury
One injury that could cause arm pain after a car accident is a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that branches off the spinal cord in the neck, and these nerves run into your shoulder, arm and hand. Whiplash or an impact to the back of the neck during a car accident can cause several injuries to this group of nerves.
For example, the whiplash caused by a car accident could damage these nerves, and this damage can cause shooting pain to travel down your arm. Also, damaged brachial plexus nerves can lead to symptoms like numbness and difficulty moving the arm. In other cases, car accidents can cause vertebrae in the neck to shift, and this can pinch the brachial plexus nerves. In many people, this pinching can lead to the same symptoms as nerve damage, including arm pain.
- Arm fracture
A fracture in one of the arm bones from a car accident can also lead to arm pain. In spite of safety devices like seat belts and airbags, your arms are largely unprotected during a car accident. They can easily strike a hard object like the steering wheel or window, and such impacts can lead to several types of fractures.
An example of an arm fracture that could be caused by a car accident is a humerus fracture. The humerus is the bone in your upper arm, and it can be broken if you brace your arms right before a collision. This position can also lead to a break in the radius or ulna in the forearm. Also, car accidents can cause your elbow to impact a hard surface in the car, breaking the bone that forms the point of the elbow, which is called the olecranon. Any of these fractures can lead to pain after your accident.
Get help for arm pain after a car accident at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy
Excel Sports & Physical Therapy clinics employ physical therapists that can help treat arm pain and other issues after you’ve been in a car accident. Our clinics offer free screenings that can help reveal the exact source of your arm pain. Once we know the cause of your pain, our team can build you an effective and personalized treatment plan. This plan will contain multiple therapy methods, and some of the methods used in your plan may include:
Don’t wait to start getting our help with your car accident injury. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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