Most people have heard of disc injuries. If you’ve been in a car accident, there’s a good chance someone checked for a herniated disc using an MRI. And that’s a good thing — disc injuries matter. But there’s another type of injury that’s often more serious, longer lasting, and almost never gets tested for.
It’s called spinal instability, and it could be the reason you’re still in pain — even after being told “everything looks normal.”
What Is Spinal Instability?
Spinal instability happens when the ligaments that support your spine are damaged — not the bones or discs, but the soft tissue scaffolding that holds everything in place. Think of it like a sprained ankle, but in your neck or low back. The joints may look fine at rest, but they move abnormally under stress.
This type of ligament injury makes your spine move too much. That movement puts pressure on the nerves and joints, causing pain, inflammation, and eventually degeneration. And unlike disc injuries, it doesn’t always cause symptoms right away — which is why it often goes undetected.
Why It’s So Hard to Find
The most common imaging tests — like MRIs and standard X-rays — simply can’t see spinal instability. MRIs are designed to look at discs, not motion. Standard X-rays take pictures while you’re still, which means they won’t catch how the spine moves under load.
To find this injury, you need stress X-rays — pictures taken while the spine bends and moves. Then, those images must be measured using a process called CRMA™ (Computerized Radiographic Mensuration Analysis). That’s what reveals if there’s too much movement between the bones — the hallmark of instability.
Why It’s a Big Deal
Undiagnosed spinal instability is the #1 reason people stay in pain after a crash. It’s also a major cause of:
- Chronic neck or low back pain
- Migraines or headaches
- Dizziness, vertigo, and vision changes
- TMJ, jaw tension, and facial pain
- Early arthritis and disc degeneration
And here’s the part that matters most: This injury is treatable, but only if it’s found early. Waiting too long increases the risk of permanent nerve damage and long-term disability.
How Our Clinic Is Different
At Advanced Health Chiropractic, we don’t stop at basic imaging. We test for all three types of spinal injury:
- Fractures (found on X-ray)
- Disc injuries (found on MRI)
- Ligament injuries (found on stress X-rays + CRMA™)
Most clinics only check the first two. But the third is often the most serious — and the most likely to become chronic if ignored.
If you’ve had a crash and your imaging came back “normal,” but you’re still in pain… don’t wait. You may be missing the one test that actually explains what’s wrong.
Want to learn more about instability and recovery?
📄 The 3 Main Injuries 2024 (PDF)
Ready for a real diagnosis?
📞 (208) 552-9886
