Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts beyond the normal time to heal from an injury. This is commonly thought of as more than three months. Chronic pain maybe categorized into two large groups.

Minor head or neck injury may be associated with post injury dizziness. Head and neck motion should increase dizziness if it has originated in the neck. Cervicogenic dizziness can be secondary to nerve overstimulation, altered neck or lumbar unbalanced musculature, neck or lumbar muscle spasm or vertebral artery problems.

The physician may see mild head injuries in the acute to chronic stage in the office setting usually subsequent to a car crash or a fall. Concussions usually are seen in motor vehicle collisions in which the head hits a broad soft surface in contrast to most subdural hematomas which occur from smaller hard surface impacts as commonly seen in falls and assaults.

Myofascial pain is probably the most common source for chronic neck, head and midback pain following motor vehicle accidents.

Headaches may occur after a minor rear end crash or higher speed crashes. These headaches include muscle tension headache, muscle contraction headaches, cervicogenic (originating in the neck) headache and migraines.

Causes may include whiplash neck myofascial spasm, TMJ dysfunction, concussions and cranial or cervical fractures. Over the counter and prescription medication use must be considered as a possible cause of these symptoms.

Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts beyond the normal time to heal from an injury. This is commonly thought of as more than three months. Chronic pain maybe categorized into two large groups.

Cervical disc injuries may occur in motor vehicle collisions in which rapid rotational accelerating forces cause tearing of annular fibers or in cases in which a seatbelt acts as a focal point for bending the body.

Minor head or neck injury may be associated with post injury dizziness. Head and neck motion should increase dizziness if it has originated in the neck. Cervicogenic dizziness can be secondary to nerve overstimulation, altered neck or lumbar unbalanced musculature, neck or lumbar muscle spasm or vertebral artery problems.

Lumbar spine injury and pain are common problems following motor vehicle accidents. The mechanism of lumbar spine and disc injury is primarily due to restraint of the pelvis by a lap belt while the lumbar spine is flexed and stretched.

The primary mechanism of thoracic spine injury for the restrained occupant includes rapid deceleration as the rapidly forward moving torso suddenly stops at the end of strap causing the side of the torso that does not have the shoulder strap to twist forward to flexion.

Myofascial pain is probably the most common source for chronic neck, head and midback pain following motor vehicle accidents.

One common neck injury seen involves the 8 mph or less low speed rear end crash. Neck soft tissue injuries occur primarily from one or more of four reasons.

A neck or back strain is a partial or complete tear of a muscle or tendon implying that muscle/tendon fibers have elongated beyond the normal anatomic motion barrier and or exceeded the muscles tolerance level to velocity change.

Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts beyond the normal time to heal from an injury. This is commonly thought of as more than three months. Chronic pain maybe categorized into two large groups.

The proposed mechanism of elbow and wrist injuries was found to include a direct blow or compressive force between the palmar aspect of the wrist and the steering wheel or dashboard causing wrist hypertension and median nerve stretch and trauma.

Shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries are commonly seen in private practice after automobile crashes. These injuries most frequently occur to the driver holding onto the steering wheel in front or rear end crash or to the front passenger bracing against the dashboard or window in a frontal crash.

Ankle and foot injuries require close examination for swelling and tenderness. The examiner should note swelling, pitting edema, bruising and foot positions that increase pain.

Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts beyond the normal time to heal from an injury. This is commonly thought of as more than three months. Chronic pain maybe categorized into two large groups.

Hip injuries may be seen in occupants using seatbelts having excessive flexion (forward movement) around a lap belt or sliding under the seat belt or submarining.

Shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries are commonly seen in private practice after automobile crashes. These injuries most frequently occur to the driver holding onto the steering wheel in front or rear end crash or to the front passenger bracing against the dashboard or window in a frontal crash.

Most knee injuries are due to direct impact with the knee bolster, dashboard, steering column, steering wheel, console or side door structures.