When Sitting, Standing, or Driving Keeps Triggering the Same Pain
Most people associate whiplash with neck problems, but rear-end and side-impact collisions can also injure the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. You may feel fine for a few days, then notice low back pain every time you sit, stand, or drive for more than a few minutes.
At DMX Miami, we see patients from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and the Florida Keys, and from Florida, the USA, Central and South America (including Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico), and the Caribbean, whose lower back pain after a crash is actually related to ligament damage and instability in the lumbar or pelvic region.
How Car Accidents Can Damage the Low Back
During a collision, force travels through the entire spine:
- The pelvis can be jolted forward or backward against the seat belt.
- The lumbar spine may flex or extend rapidly.
- Ligaments that stabilize the lumbar vertebrae and sacroiliac (SI) joints can stretch or tear.
This can lead to:
- Micro-instability between lumbar vertebrae.
- SI joint irritation or laxity.
- Abnormal motion patterns that only appear when sitting, standing, or bending.
Over time, these subtle changes can cause persistent low back pain, buttock pain, or even radiating discomfort into the legs.
Signs Your Low Back Pain May Involve Instability
Common complaints we hear from patients include:
- Pain that worsens when going from sitting to standing.
- Discomfort that increases after driving or long periods of sitting.
- A feeling that the low back or pelvis “gives out” or shifts.
- Pain focused around the beltline, tailbone, or one side of the pelvis.
- Relief when lying down, but rapid return of pain when upright.
These symptoms can indicate that ligaments are no longer adequately stabilizing the lumbar or pelvic joints.
Why Standard Imaging May Not Tell the Whole Story
After a crash, you may receive:
- Lumbar X-rays to check for fractures.
- An MRI to look for disc herniations or nerve compression.
- Possibly CT scans if more detail is needed.
These tests are important, but they typically show your spine in one static position. They may miss:
- Subtle sliding or gapping between vertebrae under load.
- SI joint motion abnormalities.
- Motion-dependent patterns where pain appears only during certain movements.
That is where Digital Motion X-Ray can make a difference.
How Digital Motion X-Ray Examines the Lumbar Spine and Pelvis
At DMX Miami, we can use Digital Motion X-Ray to:
- Record your lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints while you perform controlled movements.
- Measure how vertebrae and pelvic bones move in relation to each other.
- Identify areas where ligaments may be lax, allowing too much motion.
- Correlate your pain-provoking positions with visible changes in joint mechanics.
This motion-based information can reveal:
- Instability at specific lumbar levels.
- SI joint gapping or abnormal rotation.
- Patterns that explain why sitting, driving, or bending keeps aggravating your pain.
How DMX Findings Can Support a More Targeted Plan
DMX provides a detailed look at where and how your low back is unstable. That information can help:
- Chiropractors and physical therapists design more precise stabilization protocols.
- Regenerative medicine providers decide whether targeted injections might support damaged ligaments.
- Surgeons assess whether structural issues might require advanced intervention.
- Attorneys and insurers understand the ongoing impact of the crash on your spine.
Rather than treating your low back as a generic strain, your care team can create a plan based on how your spine actually moves.
Why Patients with Post-Accident Low Back Pain Travel to DMX Miami
Patients with stubborn low back pain after accidents choose DMX Miami because we offer:
- Advanced Digital Motion X-Ray imaging focused on spinal and pelvic instability.
- Experience with complex post-traumatic cases involving both neck and low back.
- Comprehensive reports for doctors, chiropractors, and attorneys.
- Bilingual support in English and Spanish for patients from:
- South Florida: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and the Florida Keys.
- The rest of Florida and the USA.
- Central and South America (Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico).
- The Caribbean.
When You’re Ready to Understand Your Low Back Pain
If your low back pain started after a crash and never fully resolved especially if imaging has not answered your questions instability in the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joints could be the missing piece.
Learn more: Treatment
Schedule your appointment today: Appointments
Call 305-275-7475 or book your appointment online
Dr. Rodolfo Alfonso, D.C.
Dr. Mark N. Berry, D.C.
Sunset Chiropractic and Wellness
8585 Sunset Dr. STE 102
Miami, Florida 33143