warm-swan-57714h ago

Rear-ended by a delivery van 3 months ago — back still wrecked, anyone relate?

Hey everyone. Still kind of processing all of this honestly.

Back in the spring I was stopped at a red light and a delivery van came up behind me and just... didn't stop. Hit me hard enough that my compact car got pushed into the intersection. Airbags didn't even deploy but the trunk was basically accordion'd. Car was declared a total loss.

Physically they told me nothing was fractured, but I've been dealing with this persistent mid-to-lower back thing ever since. I've done about six weeks of PT — the stretches, the heat, the tens unit, massage therapy twice a week — and honestly the sharp pain has dialed down some, but there's this constant dull ache and weird numbness that just won't quit. Some mornings I wake up and it takes me like 20 minutes to actually stand upright without wincing.

I'm 32. I should not be moving like I'm 72 lol. Long drives are basically torture now — even 45 minutes in the car and my whole lower back starts screaming. Sitting at my desk for work is rough too.

Doctors keep saying "stay consistent with PT, stay hydrated, give it time." I get it. But it's been three months and I feel like I'm plateauing.

Has anyone been through something like this? Did it actually get better? How long did it take? And honestly — is this the kind of thing that becomes a permanent issue? Just looking for real talk from people who've been there, not just "you'll be fine" reassurance.

8 replies

Most helpful first

daring-bison-62114h ago
I could have written this post myself about two years ago. Same thing — rear-ended, nothing "broken" on imaging, but the lingering back stuff was brutal. Honest answer: it did get better for me, but it took closer to 8-9 months before I felt like myself again. The plateau you're describing is real, and it's genuinely frustrating. What actually helped me break through it was switching from a general PT to one who specifically specialized in spinal trauma from MVAs. Night and day difference. Ask your doctor for a more specific referral if you haven't already.
mellow-heron-02214h ago
The tingling and numbness you're describing is worth flagging specifically with your doctor if you haven't already — not to scare you, but that can sometimes point to nerve involvement that regular PT alone doesn't fully address. Ask whether an MRI has been done, because soft tissue and nerve stuff doesn't always show up on the initial X-rays they do in the ER. A physiatrist (rehabilitation medicine doc) might also be a good next step — they're more specialized in exactly this kind of post-accident recovery than a general practitioner.
calm-crow-91514h ago
Please don't let the insurance company pressure you into settling while you're still in this plateau phase. I've seen it happen so many times — they make a lowball offer while you're still hurting, you take it because you need the money or you're just exhausted, and then six months later things get worse again and you have zero recourse. Don't sign anything finalizing your injury claim until your doctors actually say you've reached maximum medical improvement.
humble-sparrow-13314h ago
Not legal advice, but just so you're aware — the ongoing symptoms you're describing, especially if they end up being long-term, can factor significantly into a personal injury claim. Keep a log of your symptoms, how they affect your daily life and work, every appointment, every prescription. That documentation matters more than most people realize. Worth at least a free consultation with a PI attorney before you make any decisions about settling.
- clear-kestrel-78814h ago
  Ugh, I'm so sorry. Three months of waking up in pain every single day sounds genuinely exhausting, both physically and mentally. Are you talking to anyone about the emotional side of this? Like the anxiety of being in a car again, the frustration of your body not cooperating — that stuff piles up. You deserve support for all of it, not just the physical.
careful-hare-84814h ago
I used to work claims for a major carrier and I'll tell you straight — adjusters are trained to close files fast. The longer your claim stays open, the more it costs the company. So they WILL call you and make it sound like the offer is generous and time-sensitive. It's a tactic. You have more time than they'll imply. Don't rush.
- calm-finch-88314h ago
  Two things: get an MRI if you haven't had one, and talk to a personal injury lawyer before you talk to the insurance company again. Both of those are free or low-cost to start and both could make a huge difference. Everything else can wait.
clear-badger-57014h ago
Three months feels like forever when you're in it, but that's actually still pretty early for soft tissue recovery — especially after a significant impact. The fact that the sharp pain HAS reduced is genuinely a good sign. Bodies are slow, annoyingly slow, but they do heal. Hang in there.