What You Need to Know About Delayed Pain After a Car Accident
Bottom Line:
If you can walk away after a car accident without any catastrophic injuries, you may consider
yourself lucky. Even if you feel ok after exchanging information and speaking with the police, it
is always a good idea to see a chiropractor after an accident. With adrenaline pumping directly
after an accident, your brain may not register pain signals coming from your body. It's only after
you have some time to calm down do you notice that you're struggling with injuries.
Why it Matters:
Ignoring a new ache or pain after a car accident, and hoping it will go away, is not smart. Even
minor symptoms can be an indication of a more significant problem. Receiving a complete and
thorough evaluation is critical to discovering injuries early on so that you can receive the best
care and treatment to put your injuries in the rear-view mirror as quickly as possible. The
following symptoms often have a delayed onset and may not appear for hours, or days, after
your accident.
• Headaches: a concussion, neck injury, mild traumatic brain injury, or whiplash can create
headaches after a car accident. Don't dismiss a headache or dizziness until it's been adequately
evaluated by a doctor.
• Back pain: Pain in your back after a car accident can take hours or days to begin. This could
be a sign of a spinal disc injury, soft tissue injury, or whiplash.
• Neck/Shoulder Pain: If you notice pain in your neck, shoulders, or arms, it may be a sign of
whiplash or a spinal injury.
Next Steps:
Delayed onset of symptoms after a car accident is quite common. It doesn't mean that you're
"making it up." The stress of a car accident can make it difficult to truly assess how you feel in
the minutes after impact. It takes time for swelling and inflammation to begin, and if you notice
pain hours, or even days, after your accident- don't dismiss it. Call us to schedule a proper evaluation
as soon as you can- it has the potential to make a massive difference in your quality of life and long-term health!
Science Source:
https://thesmartchiropractor.com/science-sources