Injury Information - Sprains and Strains

If you have injured your back or neck in a Bucks County, Mercer County or Philadelphia car accident, chances are you are suffering from a sprain and strain injury.  Sprain and strain injuries of the back and neck are caused by the violent movements experienced in a car or truck accident. Luckily for most people, sprains and strains heal with time and are not always permanent.

Sprains and strains usually heal in a few months, but sometimes can last longer.  Rest and physical therapy is the treatment for most sprains and strains. 

A sprain is an injury to a ligament.  A ligament is the tissue in our bodies that connect a bone to another bone.  Sprains are the stretching and sometimes tearing of the ligaments.  Strains are injuries to your tendons or your muscles.  Strains occur when the muscle or tendon is stretched farther than normal.  Severe strains occur when the muscle or tendon is fully or partially torn.   

Sprains and strains of the back are graded in degree of their severity.  A Grade I sprain or strain is a mild sprain or strain which involves overstretching of the muscle, tendon, or ligament.  A Grade II sprain or strain is considered a moderate sprain which involves a partial tear of the muscle, tendon, or ligament.  A Grade III sprain or strain is a severe sprain which involves a tear or rupture of the muscle, tendon, or ligament.  Grade III sprains and strains often require surgical repair by an orthopedic surgeon.

Treatment of sprains and strains of the back and neck depend on the severity of the injury.  For the first 24-48 hours after the car accident or truck accident, the recommended treatment includes resting the neck or back, icing the neck or back, compressing the neck or back, and elevating the neck or back. The second part of treatment for a sprain/strain injury includes rehabilitation and physical therapy. If the sprain or strain is Grade III, surgical intervention may be necessary to repair the damaged muscle, tendon, or ligament.

We recommend that you consult with an experienced orthopedic doctor if you are suffering from a sprain or strain injury resulting from a Bucks County car accident.  Your family doctor should be making a referral for you to see an orthopedic doctor for your sprain/strain injury. 

Our Bucks County personal injury law firm has vast experience representing individuals suffering from sprains and strains of the neck and back.  If you have been involved in a car accident in Trenton, Bensalem, Newtown, Doylestown, PA or Hamilton, NJ provide us with your contact information so that we can schedule your free consultation for your sprain/strain injury.