Call NowBone Spurs After an Accident? Read This
Getting into a car accident can be traumatizing for both you and your body. A number of things can happen such as broken bones, concussions, bruises, cuts, and so on. Today, the friendly staff at Impact Medical Bradenton want to inform you about bone spurs that can form after an accident and what you can do about them.
How Did I Get Bone Spurs?
Bone spurs, professionally known as osteophytes, form when excess pressure is placed on the tissue surrounding your joints. When this happens, your body reacts by growing extra bone to the area being exposed to damage. Bone spurs typically form in the space around the joints connecting your limbs and between the discs in your spinal cord. These are somewhat common during car accidents when the body experiences sudden, intense impact.
Possible Symptoms
During an auto accident, the areas of the body most commonly affected are the neck, back, and limbs. All these places are susceptible to bone spur growth and so it’s important to look out for the symptoms in case you need treatment. Since bone spurs take time to form, the signs may not show right away.
- Lack of mobility. When bone spurs grow, they take up the open space that allows you to move your joints which in turn limits the range of your movements.
- Intense pain. Some people may not experience pain, but others may be unfortunate enough to have bone spurs that scrape against other bones which can cause severe pain and discomfort.
- Cramps or muscle spasms. Any compression or damage of the nerves can cause cramps or muscle spasms.
- Numbness. Bone spurs can form in a way that may pinch your spinal cord, thus causing a numbing sensation in your limbs.
- Lack of coordination. Since your nerves are located in the spine, anything that interferes with your spinal cord can affect your brain which controls your motor functions.
Treatment Options
If you are diagnosed with bone spurs, or suspect that you may have them, there are some steps you can take to relieve the pressure. Some immediate at-home remedies involve the use of ice packs, over-the-counter ibuprofen, and good ol’ rest. All of these can work in tandem to reduce swelling, manage pain, and relieve pressure in the affected area. However, these are only immediate solutions to a larger problem.
After doing what you can at home, we still highly suggest that you undergo physical therapy. Opting in for physical therapy will help you regain your range of motion while minimizing overall pain. Some physical therapy techniques are designed specifically to restore functionality of your joints, tendons, and muscles, all of which are prone to damage in an auto accident.
Where Can I Go?
At Impact Medical Bradenton, we have licensed professionals trained specifically in auto accident injuries including bone spur treatment plans. If you are enduring pain and discomfort from the development of bone spurs in your body, give us a call today at 941-269-2183 to set an appointment and get back to being your normal self.