Hidden Spine Damage: What Standard X-Rays Might Miss After a Car Crash

The spine is one of the most common body areas to take a hit during a car crash. Even mild fender benders can jolt your spine in a way that fuels damage and pain. 

Getting appropriate care, including imaging scans, can help ensure a solid road to recovery and a future devoid of complications. X-rays are a potentially useful option, but they don’t catch everything. 

Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill, Florida, specialize in treating spine injuries caused by auto accidents.

Here’s a look at spine damage X-rays miss and ways to find lasting recovery.

What X-rays show and don’t show

X-rays send rays of radiation through an area of your body. The images created help detect or assess conditions like fractures, bone infections, dislocations, and arthritis.

Standard X-rays following a car crash only show dense tissue, like bones. They don’t reveal issues in your soft tissue, spinal discs, or nerves. Hidden by denser structures, herniated discs can easily go unnoticed. 

While some advanced X-rays may show signs of nerve compression, such as structural crowding, they can’t measure things like nerve irritation, numbness, or radiating pain. Most X-rays can’t detect a concussion associated with spine damage, either.

Assessing spine damage after a car accident

If your car accident-related pain doesn’t improve with a week of home care or you experience severe or worsening symptoms, it’s time to see an expert.

Our team at Spine Institute of Florida offers consultations and assessment to determine our best course of post-accident treatment. In addition to a comprehensive exam and discussion of your symptoms and medical history, we may recommend:

• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) for a close look at soft tissues and any spinal inflammation
• EMG (electromyography) to check for nerve damage
• Advanced X-rays, such as a CT scan, for bone issues

We may also test your range of motion, muscle strength, and ability to feel sensations, such as soft touch or pin pricks.

Spine damage treatment 

Once our team has determined your injury specifics, your personalized plan may include conservative care or, in severe cases, surgery. 

Your conservative treatments may include bracing, medication, or physical therapy. Minimally invasive options, such as an epidural steroid injection or nerve block, can also help alleviate neck and back pain.

If you end up needing surgery, we may recommend an outpatient procedure, like minimally invasive spinal fusion, or something more complex. 

To learn more about spine damage after a car accident or get started with compassionate, expert care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.