Chronic Neck Pain Over 6 Years From Car Accident

Hello, I am a first time poster. I was in an auto accident about 6 years ago and still have neck pain that will not go away in the right side of my neck. The accident was not very bad, I was at a complete stop and was hit from behind at approx 25 MPH. Then pain and stiffness set in after a day or so. It got pretty bad for the following 6 months to a year. After about a year the pain decreased by about 75%, but after 6 years now, the pain still persists and does not show any signs of getting better.

The pain is on the right side of my neck. It aches when I am not moving and feels strained when I do move it. I have stiffness, especially when moving to the right. There is crackling noises and pops all the time. The symptoms are not severe, but will not go away either. After 6 years the symptoms have remained exactly the same. Just doesn't seem to get better.

In the first year of the accident I did two full cycles of physical therapy (approx. 40 visits) and also a full cycle at a chiro (20 visits). I then didn't do much to treat it for five years after that. And most recently it was bothering me more than usual so I just finished another cycle at a new chiro (20 visits).

To be honest, the PT and chiro did not really help with the pain. I think it is possible that all the stretching etc. may possibly make it worse. I am still not sure yet...

If anybody had any advice it would be greatly appreciated. I have been suffering for 6 years and honestly don't know if things will ever get better. I have been dealing with idea this may be permanent. Which is very depressing.

Hi CaseyMel & welcome to the forum. By chance was an MRI ever done on your neck? If so, do you know the results of the MRI? An MRI can be beneficial to see what is going on in there. I think at this point, its a moot to consider more chiropractic care. For a neck problem I suggest getting a current MRI, depending on the results of it, a consult with a good board certified neurosurgeon. Don't panic at the thought of a neurosurgeon, it does not mean that you will need surgery. He can review the MRI & give options of what may help you.

Another thought if all checks out is to be referred to a pain mgt dr.. The main thing is to get a thorough evaluation of your neck. There are lots of different options out there but you need to know first if there are disc problems within your neck.

Keep us posted. Take care.

Thanks for the responses, that is very much appreciated! No I have never had an MRI for this injury, just Xrays a couple of times. Which the Dr.'s said looked good other than some straightening of the spine. Everybody told me that it would heal in time, it just never did.

I am in the process of trying to get an MRI. I went to my primary recently and got a referral to go to a specialist in hopes of an MRI and some answers. They recommended an orthopedic surgeon but I believe I can go to any specialist that accepts my HC. Does anyone have a recommendation for what type of specialist I should pursue? Is a neurosurgeon better suited for this type of injury? I have no experience with a neurosurgeon so wasn't quite sure but after researching briefly they appear they may be.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Casey

Ah, whiplash, the 'gift' that keeps on giving! My first rear end collision was back in 1997. After a couple of months I was better...or at least I felt better. Many years later, I started having neck problems again and my doctor explained it was all from the whiplash I had suffered all those years ago. He explained it to me this way...

Imagine a rubber band. When it is new, it stretches out and back with little problem and no noticeable changes in appearance. As it ages, it looses its elasticity and doesn't 'bounce back' as it once used to. Getting even older, it tends to crack and gets even looser.

The ligaments that hold our neck in place and our head upright are like that rubber band. Driving my car or looking at the computer screen (holding my head forward for 'long' periods of time) causes extreme stress on those ligaments. Where they originate and insert (terminate) become very painful areas for me. The work my vertebrae do to 'assist' in the position gets them 'stuck'.

So far, the greatest help to me have been heat, stim, and massage. Remembering to frequently move my head and neck is a big help, too. Shoulder shrugs, rolling the shoulders, moving the head toward the shoulders on either side, looking to the side, looking down, etc. also helps keep the pain at bay. I have the most trouble with looking up at the ceiling and then bringing my head back to center.

I've also found that using the flattest pillow I can get has helped. Those 'formed' pillows cause me excruciating pain!

Get an M.R.I. and get with a pain management doctor. That's the best advice I can give you.