Scrapes, bruises, and even broken bones are obvious injuries after a car accident. But what about injuries that aren’t so obvious? There are even some injuries that car accident victims experience that can be tricky to diagnose because the symptoms don’t always show up right away. This type of delayed injury can lead to you experiencing pain and discomfort in the days after a car accident before realizing something is wrong.
Unfortunately, back and neck injuries are common in car accidents. Whenever there is risk of injury to the spine, you may want to consult with a doctor of neurology in San Antonio to help review your symptoms. The spinal cord houses and protects the nervous system, and when there is damage to the spinal cord it can affect your nerves and the brain’s ability to effectively communicate with the rest of your body. A neurologist is a type of doctor who treats injuries related to your brain, spinal cord, and nervous system.
Here are three types of delayed car accident injuries that affect your head, neck, and back:
Headaches
Immediately after a car accident, adrenaline is running through your body and it can keep you from noticing if you are in a lot of pain. Headaches may not appear right after the accident, but you might start to notice them in the hours and days that follow the accident. You don’t have to hit your head on the window or the steering wheel to experience painful headaches after an accident. There are other injuries, including the ones below, that list headaches as a symptom. However, headaches can also be a signal of a concussion.
When you have been in a high impact car accident, your body may have been jolted around a lot. In some cases, the force of the accident can cause your head to snap backward into the headrest. While the headrest provides some cushion, it can’t prevent you from getting a concussion. If you suspect you have a concussion it is important that you seek medical treatment from a a car accident doctor.
Whiplash
Whiplash is the most common car accident injury and can affect the head, neck, back, and even shoulders. The force of the collision can cause your head to snap forward and then backward, putting significant strain on your neck. Even though the seat belt and airbags are there to keep you safe, there is nothing to safely restrain your head from being jostled. Whiplash occurs when the neck muscles are stretched out of their normal range of motion and can even lead to damage to the vertebrae in your spine.
It is common to feel sore after a car accident because of how your muscles have strained to protect you. However, soreness in the neck, back, and even shoulders can be a strong indicator of whiplash. Headaches, pain, numbness, and tingling are also signs of whiplash. A doctor of neurology in San Antonio will be able to identify, diagnose and treat whiplash based on your reported symptoms and may even use diagnostic imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan to rule out other conditions.
Herniated Disc
One type of injury that can occur with whiplash is a herniated disc. As the neck muscles strain with the force of the accident snapping your head forward and backward, this can also put pressure on the spinal cord. Your neck muscles are there to support your neck and spine, and when they are strained and stressed, your spine is less protected. Additionally, when there is damage to your spine, it can affect the discs that separate your vertebrae.
The discs in your spine are a spongy-like material that help cushion and separate each vertebra. Sometimes you can experience what is more commonly referred to as a “slipped disc”, which is where the disc separating two vertebrae slips out of its normal positioning. This can cause pain and discomfort as the disc may press into a nearby nerve. Any type of pressure on a nerve can cause pain, numbness, and tingling. A doctor of neurology in San Antonio can use neurological diagnostic tools to identify the nerve issue and resolve it.
Don’t Delay Treatment for a Post-Car Accident Injury!
While it is common for some symptoms to be delayed after a car accident, that doesn’t mean you should delay in seeking medical treatment for possible injuries. Injuries to the spine and nervous system are serious and should be treated right away to avoid chronic pain and discomfort. When you are looking for neurology in San Antonio, trust in the neurologists at ProCare Medical Center. Contact us today.
