Pain after a car accident can take many forms. Some car accident victims struggle with headaches or neck pain. Others experience car accident soreness in their chests from the seatbelt. Common injuries like whiplash, broken bones, internal organ damage, and spine injuries can cause significant pain.
If you were in a car accident, it’s important to be aware of your pain and symptoms. Even minor pain can be a sign of a severe injury or serious underlying condition. You should worry about pain after a car accident regardless of its severity. Chiropractors, physiotherapists, and other medical professionals can assess your pain, determine the underlying cause, and develop a treatment plan to reduce your pain and suffering.
Signs You Should Seek Medical Care for Pain After a Car Accident
Soreness is common after a car accident. Vehicle occupants’ bodies can go through significant trauma during an accident. Many people are left battered and bruised. If you are experiencing pain or are sore after a car accident, it’s important to take it seriously. Don’t ignore signs and symptoms of underlying injuries such as:
- Bodily pain – If you experience pain that prevents you from living your life normally, this is a cause for immediate concern.
- Worsening pain – If your pain is getting worse and worse instead of improving, get assessed by a medical professional. You could be more seriously injured than you realize.
- Numbness or tingling – Numbness and tingling is often a sign of nerve damage, which requires medical intervention. Radiating pain can also be a sign of nerve damage.
- Reduced functioning – If you can’t move around or perform your everyday tasks, this could be a sign of a potentially serious issue.
- Abdominal pain – This can be a sign of internal injuries that require immediate medical attention.
- Difficulty breathing – If your pain is preventing you from breathing normally, do not delay in seeking help. Get assessed by a medical professional immediately.
- Headaches – Many issues can cause headaches, but a headache after a car accident can be a sign of a serious head or neck injury.
- Confusion or disorientation – Confusion, dizziness, and brain fog are common signs of concussion and other types of brain injuries. If you experience these symptoms, this is a major red flag. Get checked out by a medical professional.
Delayed Pain Is Common in Car Accident Injuries
Many people injured in car accidents do not immediately feel the full extent of their injuries. Many car accident injuries cause inflammation, muscle tension, and other problems which become more painful in the days, weeks, and months after an auto accident. If you find yourself dealing with delayed onset pain, it’s important to address it. Certain medical treatments can provide relief from these uncomfortable symptoms.
Types of Injuries That Can Lead To Pain After a Car Accident
A car accident can have a massive impact on a person’s life. If you were involved in a crash, you might be suffering from painful symptoms that greatly reduce your quality of life. Some of the most common types of car accident injuries include:
Head Injuries Caused by a Car Accident
Head injuries can range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries. Individuals with head injuries may experience lingering symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, and dizziness even if they receive immediate emergency medical treatment for their injuries. Chiropractic treatment can sometimes alleviate the pain, discomfort, and stiffness associated with head injuries.
Back Injuries Caused in a Car Accident
Auto collisions can put intense force on the bones and muscles of the back. You may have suffered a herniated disc or slipped disc, a spinal injury, or a spinal fracture. Back injuries can range from mild to severe, but even minor back discomfort after an accident shouldn’t be ignored
In some cases, back injuries may not be immediately apparent. You might have felt fine for a few days and then started experiencing pain and discomfort. If this is the case, it’s never too late to get assessed by a medical professional. Treatment options like chiropractic care and physiotherapy may provide relief even if the motor vehicle accident occurred weeks or months ago.
Car Accidents Can Cause Dislocations, Fractures, and Broken Bones
Unsurprisingly, dislocations, fractures, and broken bones are not uncommon in serious car accidents. The human body is simply not strong enough to sustain the massive forces placed on it during a crash. Dislocations occur when bones in a joint are forced out of their normal position. Shoulders, fingers, elbows, knees, hips, and ankles can be dislocated in a car accident. Fractures and broken bones can vary from hairline fractures to major breaks that require surgical intervention.
Chiropractors can perform adjustments that realign bones and relieve pain and stiffness caused by a dislocation. Physiotherapists can guide car accident victims in exercises and treatments that strengthen the muscles around the joint and improve mobility.
Whiplash Injuries Caused by Sudden Acceleration or Deceleration in a Car Crash
Whiplash occurs when the head violently moves back and forth. Whiplash injuries are common in car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. The forceful movement of the head can injure the muscles, ligaments, bones, and tissues of the neck.
Whiplash is tricky because many people don’t immediately realize they suffered this serious injury. The delayed injury symptoms of whiplash may not be obvious at first. If you experience neck pain, stiffness, headaches, arm numbness or tingling sensations, dizziness, or ringing in the ears, these can potentially be signs of whiplash.
Treatment options for whiplash often include rest, physical therapy, physiotherapy, and pain management. Early intervention is key, so if you suspect you have sustained a whiplash injury in a car accident, consult a medical professional.
Soft Tissue Injuries in a Car Crash
Contusions, torn ligaments, muscle strains, and rotator cuff injuries are just some of the soft tissue injuries an individual may suffer in a car crash. If you suffered soft tissue injuries such as these, you may experience pain, stiffness, immobility, and reduced range of motion. Physiotherapy and chiropractic care can address these issues through a variety of treatments.
Call Naples Community Injury Center for Help if You’re Experiencing Pain After a Car Accident
The team at Naples Community Injury Center can treat your non-emergency car accident injuries with chiropractic treatments and physiotherapy. Call us at (239) 631-5445 to set up an appointment.
