Motor Vehicle accidents will affect different people in different ways.
While some people can walk away from an accident with a only few minor aches or acute injuries, other crash victims could suffer for years after with chronic pain.
And, these two people could have been in extremely similar accidents.
And on that note, two very different accidents, like high-impact and rear-end car accidents, can cause similar injuries as well.
Because people can react so differently after similar accidents, it's important to understand what's normal and what isn't after a car accident.
The best way to understand the injuries you may be dealing with is to visit a car accident doctor as soon as you can after your accident.
Your doctor will evaluate and diagnose your injuries and provide you with a treatment plan that will return you to health. It's important to also pay attention to your daily routine and if the emotional toll is getting in the way of your daily life. Emotional trauma can be just as debilitating as physical trauma, so it's important you have access to the correct resources.
But, until you can visit a doctor, we'll go over some of the common injuries and symptoms you can expect to experience physically after a car accident.
Table of Contents
- Don't Underestimate Minor Aches and Pains
- Expected Delayed Pain and Symptoms
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Headaches
- Neck, Shoulder, or Back Pain
- Broken Bones
- How Long Will It Take To Recover
- Always Seek Medical Care
- Contact The Arrowhead Clinic If You’ve Been in a Car Accident
Don't Underestimate Minor Aches and Pains
You will likely experience physical pain, aches, pains, and many other abnormal aches and pains in the days and weeks following your accident.
All of these feelings should be taken seriously.
At the first sign of pain or any other symptoms, you should make an appointment to see either a car accident chiropractor or your primary care physician to get checked out and start any necessary medical intervention.
Many people make the mistake of brushing off symptoms like neck pain or back pain after an accident because they believe, or hope, it will go away on its own.
But that's not always the case, and it's always better to err on the side of caution.
Even mild pain or a reduced range of motion can be a sign of a serious underlying injury that needs immediate medical treatment.
Expect Delayed Pain and Symptoms
Many signs and symptoms of injuries like whiplash, concussions, soft tissue injuries, and other common accident injuries aren't noticeable until several hours, days, or weeks after accidents.
After your motor vehicle collision, you will likely experience a rush of adrenaline that can mask physical effects, other injury symptoms or even internal injuries.
This leads many people to believe they've made it through the accident without any physical injuries.
Even if you feel fine immediately after your accident, you need to pay close attention to symptoms that may arise over the next few days or weeks.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are the most common type of injury people sustain after car accidents.
All of our bones are supported by muscle, ligaments, and tendons, or soft tissues.
The force of impact during your crash will likely put stress on your body that it's not designed to absorb, causing tears or sprains to your soft tissues.
The most common symptom of a soft tissue injury is pain.
The pain could be isolated to the spot of the injury, or it could radiate down to your limbs.
If the pain is in your neck, it could be a sign of whiplash.
If your pain is intense or doesn't go away, you should see an accident chiropractor.
Headaches
Headaches are another common car accident injury.
Many people will experience headaches after their accident, but again, they won't always show up right away.
Headaches after car wrecks are often caused by:
- Neck or shoulder tension
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Headaches can range from minor to severe, and they could be a symptom of something more serious.
If you notice headaches at any time after your accident, see an experienced car accident doctor right away to make sure everything is okay.
Neck, Shoulder, or Back Pain
Pain in your neck, shoulder, or back is a prevalent car crash symptom.
These symptoms may come out of nowhere after you've been feeling fine.
The pain may be centralized, or it could feel like it's shooting down the arms or legs.
Regardless of how you're experiencing it, the pan should never be ignored.
These pains could be caused by:
- Stress
- Muscle tension
- Soft tissue injuries
- Nerve or tissue damage
Broken Bones
If you've been in a high-impact car accident and you've broken a bone, you will know right away. These physical symptoms won't be delayed.
A broken bone or fracture usually causes extreme pain right away at the injury site and is typically accompanied by bruising and swelling.
With a compound fracture, your bone will stick out from the skin.
If you have any reason to think you may have a broken bone, you need to seek medical care right away.
Your doctor will determine whether your bone is broken with an x-ray.
Delaying this appointment could lead to permanent damage.
Doctors have several treatment protocols to follow for a broken bone, depending on the break's location and severity. Common treatments for broken bones include a cast, traction, a brace, or pins or screws.
Broken bones can take several weeks to several months to fully heal.
Even after the break has healed, you can still experience chronic or recurrent pain.
How Long Will It Take To Recover?
This answer will vary widely depending on the severity of your accident and your injuries.
It could take you days, weeks, months, or years for you to fully heal after an accident.
Factors like age, health status, and treatment will play a large part in your recovery.
You can help improve your recovery time by seeking immediate medical care, no matter how you feel.
Always Seek Medical Care
As soon as you can after your car accident or rear-end collision, it's imperative to see chiropractic care to avoid long-term damage.
You could be experiencing a variety of symptoms, like headaches, abdominal pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and general soreness.
But even if you aren't, you should still seek medical care, especially if you will file a personal injury lawsuit.
Your chiropractor will document your visits so you can provide medical records to your lawyer to help strengthen your claim against the insurance company.
Chiropractic care is able to treat a wide range of symptoms, and your doctor will help you get back to everyday life much faster than trying to nurse your injuries on your own at home.
Contact The Arrowhead Clinic If You’ve Been in a Car Accident
The Arrowhead Clinic has over 40 years of experience treating victims of car accident victims.
Their skilled car accident chiropractors can help you heal from soft tissue injuries, and they can help you manage all of your injury symptoms with safe, non-intrusive care.
Don’t let car accident injuries disrupt your life for long.
Let us help you get back on your feet and provide you with the care you need after your accident.
Call our team of healthcare professionals today or click the button below to schedule your free consultation with the Arrowhead Clinic.
