"Minor" car accident, questions on possible injury

I was rear-ended four days ago, while standing still at a light. I was
hit from behind, which forced me into the car in front of me, so it was
a kind of double-whiplash effect. I'm guessing the guy hit me at about
20 mph -- maybe 30? There was significant bumper damage to the rear
bumper, and the rear trunk space was compressed on one side by about 2
inches -- but that was about it. The car remains fully drivable and
(for about $2000) repairable.

I had my seat belt on, but the headrest was probably not as high as it
should have been, so I suffered more whiplash than was probably
necessary. At the time I had a headache, and some soreness in my upper
back. I went to the doctor the next day, and he said to apply heat,
and gave me a muscle relaxant to take for a few days.

So, four days after the accident:

-- No headache.

-- Just a little twinge of discomfort in the muscles of my upper back.
It certainly has not become worse, and I think it's better than it was
the day after the accident, but it is there.

-- I seem to have some slight weakness or tingling in my legs.
However, judging what is going on there is complicated, because I'd
been have some slightly funny feelings in my legs prior to the
accident. As I posted in a separate discussion thread, I'm on some
meds for urinary frequency, and they may be causing some funny feelings
in my legs.

It's hard to tell for sure if the "funny feelings" in my legs are worse
following the accident. What seems to be "new" these past few days,
since the accident -- if anything is really "new" at all -- is that
along with a bit of weakness, there is a little bit of stiffness in the
legs.

Looking at me, you would not notice anything is wrong. I'm walking
fine, not in any major pain. Just having these slight twinges in my
back, and the slight weakness/stiffness in my legs.

My general questions are these:

1. First, since I have not yet experienced any serious pain in my back
or neck (again, after four days), is the risk of such symptoms over?
Or is it possible they can show up weeks later?

2. Can a collision at the speed I indicated cause some lower-back
damage, like a slipped disk, that could cause the funny feelings in my
legs?

Any input would be appreciated.

CJ

"CJ" > wrote
> My general questions are these:
>
> 1. First, since I have not yet experienced any serious pain in my back
> or neck (again, after four days), is the risk of such symptoms over?
> Or is it possible they can show up weeks later?

The problem is, spinal injuries, especially to the discs, get progressively
worse. Any injury/stress will increase problems down the line.

> 2. Can a collision at the speed I indicated cause some lower-back
> damage, like a slipped disk, that could cause the funny feelings in my
> legs?

Yes. For instance, I have a bad/bulging C5/C6 disc that tingles my left arm
and leg. It's been getting progressively worse for 30 years, but in the
last 5 or so has gotten to the point where I'm considering more extreme
means than better pillows, beds, PT and aspirin/ibuprofen.

Floyd

"fbloogyudsr" > wrote in message
...

> Yes. For instance, I have a bad/bulging C5/C6 disc that tingles my left
> arm
> and leg. It's been getting progressively worse for 30 years, but in the
> last 5 or so has gotten to the point where I'm considering more extreme
> means than better pillows, beds, PT and aspirin/ibuprofen.
>

Bulging disks at C5 and/or C-6 disk wouldn't be causing any leg symptoms.

HMc

In article .com>,
"CJ" > wrote:
>
> My general questions are these:
>
> 1. First, since I have not yet experienced any serious pain in my back
> or neck (again, after four days), is the risk of such symptoms over?
> Or is it possible they can show up weeks later?
>
> 2. Can a collision at the speed I indicated cause some lower-back
> damage, like a slipped disk, that could cause the funny feelings in my
> legs?

These are questions you should discuss with your doctor, not with
complete strangers on a newsgroup.

CJ wrote:
> I was rear-ended four days ago, while standing still at a light. I
was
> hit from behind, which forced me into the car in front of me, so it
was
> a kind of double-whiplash effect. I'm guessing the guy hit me at
about
> 20 mph -- maybe 30? There was significant bumper damage to the rear
> bumper, and the rear trunk space was compressed on one side by about
2
> inches -- but that was about it. The car remains fully drivable and
> (for about $2000) repairable.
>
> I had my seat belt on, but the headrest was probably not as high as
it
> should have been, so I suffered more whiplash than was probably
> necessary. At the time I had a headache, and some soreness in my
upper
> back. I went to the doctor the next day, and he said to apply heat,
> and gave me a muscle relaxant to take for a few days.
>
> So, four days after the accident:
>
> -- No headache.
>
> -- Just a little twinge of discomfort in the muscles of my upper
back.
> It certainly has not become worse, and I think it's better than it
was
> the day after the accident, but it is there.
>
> -- I seem to have some slight weakness or tingling in my legs.
> However, judging what is going on there is complicated, because I'd
> been have some slightly funny feelings in my legs prior to the
> accident. As I posted in a separate discussion thread, I'm on some
> meds for urinary frequency, and they may be causing some funny
feelings
> in my legs.
>
> It's hard to tell for sure if the "funny feelings" in my legs are
worse
> following the accident. What seems to be "new" these past few days,
> since the accident -- if anything is really "new" at all -- is that
> along with a bit of weakness, there is a little bit of stiffness in
the
> legs.
>
> Looking at me, you would not notice anything is wrong. I'm walking
> fine, not in any major pain. Just having these slight twinges in my
> back, and the slight weakness/stiffness in my legs.
>
> My general questions are these:
>
> 1. First, since I have not yet experienced any serious pain in my
back
> or neck (again, after four days), is the risk of such symptoms over?
> Or is it possible they can show up weeks later?
>
> 2. Can a collision at the speed I indicated cause some lower-back
> damage, like a slipped disk, that could cause the funny feelings in
my
> legs?
>
> Any input would be appreciated.
>

I was rear ended many years ago, not as severe and let the reckless
driver go, had bad pain in the neck on and off and it lasted for years
from the muscle in the back of the neck.

Shawn Hearn wrote:

> These are questions you should discuss with your doctor, not with
> complete strangers on a newsgroup.

I'm gonna have to agree with this statement. Please seek help from a
doctor so as to avoid worsening the injury and causing problems for
yourself down the road.

On 23 Apr 2005 10:06:26 -0700, "CJ" > wrote:

>My general questions are these:
>
>1. First, since I have not yet experienced any serious pain in my back
>or neck (again, after four days), is the risk of such symptoms over?
>Or is it possible they can show up weeks later?
>
>2. Can a collision at the speed I indicated cause some lower-back
>damage, like a slipped disk, that could cause the funny feelings in my
>legs?
>
>Any input would be appreciated.
>
>CJ


These questions should not be answered on a Newsgroup. You need to
see a competent spine specialist.

Best,

Bob

Robert A. Fink, M. D.
Neurological Surgery
2500 Milvia Street Suite 222
Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA
510-849-2555

**********************************
NOTE: The material above is not "medical
advice". Medical advice can only be
given after an in-person contact between
doctor and patient.
**********************************

"The Office Jet" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> Shawn Hearn wrote:
>
>> These are questions you should discuss with your doctor, not with
>> complete strangers on a newsgroup.
>
> I'm gonna have to agree with this statement. Please seek help from a
> doctor so as to avoid worsening the injury and causing problems for
> yourself down the road.

I wasn't able to find the original post, but I wouldn't discount the
possibility that the subject might have really been "Minor car accident,
questions on possible financial windfall"