After a car accident, you are probably on the lookout for a number of common injuries like broken bones, whiplash, or concussions. These can all be serious conditions that warrant attention, but focusing too heavily on them may cause you to miss other unexpected reactions your body has to trauma. It may even be days or weeks before you notice symptoms of certain injuries. In the time following an accident, gastrointestinal symptoms like stomach pain or diarrhea may be signs of serious injuries that require the care of a car accident doctor in Tucker. In fact, abdominal symptoms can be life-threatening when left untreated, making it even more important to have them evaluated as soon as possible.
Delayed Symptoms After A Car Accident
Most injuries related to car accidents occur at the moment of impact or the seconds immediately following the crash. However, that moment can be very traumatic to the body, and it may go into shock or begin producing adrenaline immediately. These reactions can cause the body to go into overdrive, hiding pain and other symptoms to enable you to push through the chaotic moment. The adrenaline can take some time to wear off, and medical shock often lasts even longer, changing the body’s chemistry enough that you will still not notice injuries.
However, this does not mean your injuries are not still present because there might have been symptoms that aren’t part of what to expect physically after an accident. In fact, you may be moving as if you are not injured, unknowingly worsening the condition. As these effects wear off and you become more aware of your body, you may begin to notice symptoms like abdominal pain, bruising and cuts, or nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms should be considered related to your accident and treated as if they are serious. Even if you have not yet seen a car accident doctor in Tucker, these symptoms are an indicator that you should seek treatment quickly.
Causes of Abdominal Problems
While there are a number of ways abdominal issues can be connected to car accident injuries, the most common is something known as Seat Belt Syndrome. This refers to the body’s reaction to the pressure from a seatbelt against the lap during the impact of a crash. The severity of this issue can vary, and sometimes it simply manifests as bruises and lacerations. However, it can also lead to serious internal issues.
One of the most likely dangers associated with Seat Belt Syndrome is internal bleeding. If the seatbelt places enough pressure against the abdomen, an organ can rupture and bleed profusely, leading the abdominal cavity to become filled with blood. This hemorrhage can be fatal on its own, as well as leading to systemic infections that make the condition more serious. Internal bleeding is actually a common cause of death that results from abdominal trauma, as the damaged organs will eventually fail and stop sustaining the body’s functions.
Even without internal bleeding, Seat Belt Syndrome can result in damage to the bowels, like obstruction or inflammation, damage to the kidney and liver, or appendicitis brought on by physical trauma. The spleen and pancreas are also positioned so they may be damaged upon impact.
The risk of Seat Belt Syndrome is particularly pronounced in children due to their underdeveloped abdominal muscles. A child involved in an accident should be heavily monitored for abdominal symptoms.
When to Seek Care
If you have been in a car accident, the best thing to do is always to seek care from a car accident doctor in Tucker as soon as possible. Even if you do not have any symptoms yet, a doctor will be able to identify injuries and begin treatment early. With serious conditions like internal bleeding, this could be a life-saving time difference. However, if you begin to notice these symptoms after some time, you should seek care as quickly as possible. Abdominal pain or diarrhea indicate you should seek care soon.
Some symptoms may indicate you need emergency care. Headaches or stiffness in the neck, confusion, light-headedness, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, or blood in the stool and urine are all signs of severe abdominal issues.
At AICA Tucker, our clinic is made up of a range of experts, from neurologists to chiropractors to pain management specialists. And because we specialize in car accident victims, all of the specialists at AICA Tucker will be trained to look for specific symptoms and conditions. With the latest technology and diagnostic imaging capabilities, AICA Tucker will perform a thorough evaluation and begin your treatment plan today.