Did you know that millions of Americans get into car accidents each year? Even what seems like a minor car accident can still end up affecting you physically. Car accident symptoms can appear right away, or it may take days for you to notice something is wrong. The stress of a car accident can cause your body to produce adrenaline, which initiates your fight or flight response. This helps you during the immediate aftermath of a stressful event like a car accident, though it can also keep you from recognizing damage to your body. Visit a team of car accident chiropractors after a car accident to get a physical assessment and begin treatment as soon as possible.
Immediate Signs of a Car Accident
Here are examples of car accident side effects that you may recognize immediately after a car accident:
Scrapes & Bruises
A car accident can cause scrapes and bruises that you start to recognize right away. A seat belt could scrape your skin, or the impact from the vehicle could cause you to injure your extremities. While bruises can take time to appear, you may notice tenderness, redness, and swelling that are signs of bruising to come.
Headaches
Headaches are also common in the immediate aftermath of a car accident. The stress of the accident alone could trigger a tension headache or a pain response. You could have also hit your head and suffer headaches as a result. Headaches can be a sign of a more serious injury, including head trauma, so it is important to take these seriously and get checked out right away.
Broken Bones
You will likely recognize if you have suffered a broken bone as a result of the car accident. You may develop extreme pain, and a broken bone could even limit your mobility. Commonly broken bones from a car accident can include a broken wrist, elbow, arm, or ankle.
Delayed Car Accident Symptoms
It is also possible to experience post-car accident symptoms that take hours or even days to fully appear. Here are examples of delayed car accident symptoms you may experience:
Headaches
You may also experience headaches after a car accident that don’t appear right away. A head injury or head trauma can also cause headaches that may be slow to develop. You might ask, what could these lingering headaches after the injury might be. These headaches can be a sign of a concussion or another serious injury.
Muscle Pains
Muscle pain is common after a car accident but may also be a sign of a car accident injury. Whiplash is a common car accident injury that affects the muscles and tendons in your neck. You may slowly develop muscle pain, tenderness, and soreness in your neck muscles.
Back Pain
Back pain is a common complaint after a car accident and also a symptom of potential injuries you may have suffered. A car accident can also affect your spine, causing misalignments of the vertebrae and spinal discs. Pain, tingling, and numbness are symptoms of a herniated disc or a compressed nerve.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is commonly associated with whiplash and damage to the spine in your neck. Pain can make it difficult to turn your head in certain directions, and you may develop stiffness and limited range of motion.
Nausea and Vomiting
If you develop nausea and vomiting after a car accident, these can be signs of a head injury or traumatic brain injury. A concussion can cause nausea and vomiting in addition to disorientation and other symptoms. Nausea and vomiting may also be signs of serious internal injuries to the stomach and abdomen.
Healing from a Car Accident Injury
Car accident doctor and chiropractors are highly knowledgeable and skilled in treating a wide variety of car accident injuries. Chiropractic care offers a safe and all-natural option for treatment with effective results. Visit a car accident chiropractor as soon as possible to get the necessary care for a speedy and full recovery. Our team of car accident chiropractors at ProCare Medical Centers work with you to assess any physical damage sustained in a car accident. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging to support a diagnosis and then develop a hands-on treatment approach to help you experience lasting pain relief. Visit us online or call to schedule an appointment with our car accident chiropractors today.
