Car Accident and Recovery

In  July 2009 I got into a car accident. I was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped and rear-ended.  My exercise ability, strength and life totally changed.

I got severe whiplash and now am left with L5-S1 and sacroiliac joint instability.

I honestly feel like a shell of what I once was physically.  I always was proud of my strength and my love for running made me soooo happy.  Now I feel weak, afraid to move and hurt my back, and I cannot run even when my back is better due to neck pain.  After this re-injury I feel like I will never ever get to the point where I can run again, let alone four or five days a week like I used to.

I will now list the treatment I received, and offer advice to anyone in this situation:

Physiotherapy (8 sessions):

I received physio probably a week after the accident.  It was very gentle, and mostly consisted of the physiotherapist gently testing my range of motion, doing a tiny bit of manipulation, and laying with a hot pack for 15-20 minutes.

• Level of long-term relief ? 2/10

Massage therapy (once to twice weekly for 4 months, then every two weeks afterwards until present):

As the massage therapy continued, I began to realize I was experiencing very short-term relief, but would be dying with pain again after about a week.

• Level of long-term relief? 5/10

Acupuncture (once weekly for 2 months, and then every two weeks afterward until present):

The very first acupuncture session actually took away the excruciating neck pain immediately. It was a miracle! However, after the neck pain went away, I realized the lower back pain was there with a vengeance.  It was very stubborn and was not responding to treatment like the neck did.

• Level of long-term relief? 8/10 for neck, 4/10 for back

Hot Yoga (four times weekly until present):

This was the push I needed to start to feel normal again.  My whole body loosened up and I began to catch a glimpse of what might be a normal, pain-free life again.  To feel full benefit I see I have to go at least four times weekly.

• Level of long-term relief? 10/10

Active Rehabilitation (two times weekly for three weeks/6 sessions):

Wow.  This brought me back to previous pain level just before acupuncture started in Feb 2010.  Even going to yoga is not helping.  The exercises and stretches made things worse, although the kinesiologist assured me that it would “get worse before it gets better”.

• Level of long-term relief? Right now 0/10, but the final result is pending

Summary:

Yoga (four times weekly) with maintenance massage therapy (every two weeks) and a dash of acupuncture seems to do the trick.

The active rehab would have been perfect a month or two after the accident when I was already in pain.  It could have strengthened the damaged muscles and provided a stronger base throughout the year until I started yoga.  I believe it would have taken a year to recover instead of where I am now.

A year has gone by and I’m 60% back to normal.