Even a mild car accident can cause trauma – both mental and physical – for some time after the incident occurs. As hours or days begin to pass some of your immediate worries may disappear, and you may start to notice more physical symptoms that you originally did. While you should always visit a Tucker chiropractor following an accident for a full evaluation, some symptoms may not appear for even weeks. Keep reading to understand what symptoms may appear in what time frame so you can be vigilant about your care.
Immediately After an Accident
For many people, a car crash activates our “fight or flight” response and the body begins producing adrenaline that may let us push through pain. This can mask symptoms of some injuries. However, some things will be apparent right away.
Any car accident injuries like bruises or cuts will be noticeable as soon as they occur- even if you don’t feel the pain. Severe bleeding will need to be addressed quickly to prevent too much blood loss and injuries that appear superficial may indicate more serious underlying causes.
A broken bone may also be obvious, especially in an open fracture where the bone actually protrudes through the skin. Trying to use a limb with a broken bone, like an arm or a leg, may quickly reveal there is something wrong there.
You should always visit a Tucker chiropractor following a car accident to review any injuries and proactively address any potential issues.
Hours After an Accident
As your adrenaline starts to subside and you rest, you may begin to notice more symptoms occurring throughout the day. These are still likely related to your accident and should be treated as such, with monitoring and care.
Damage to your soft tissues, such as whiplash or disc damage, often takes a few hours to begin causing pain. As the day goes on, you may notice tightness or loss of movement in your neck, a headache, or tingling in your arms. Movement may worsen these symptoms so you may notice them escalate as time goes on.
While a headache that starts in the base of your neck is associated with whiplash, headaches in general may indicate other issues as well. Car accidents create a serious risk for traumatic brain injuries like concussions. Even if your head didn’t make contact with something during impact, your brain may have moved inside your skull and been bounced against the hard surface. Brain injuries like these can range from mild to severe and are always important to have evaluated. In addition to headaches, you may notice nausea and dizziness, personality shifts, or a loss of focus and memory. Some people also experience severe trouble sleeping, which isn’t known until the evening. Monitoring these symptoms can be important so that any brain injuries can be addressed swiftly.
Days After an Accident
In some cases, concussions and whiplash symptoms may not begin the same day as the crash, but later. You should be watching for any of the above symptoms in the days following your accident.
One common injury that may not appear for days is a spinal cord injury. While these can be very serious, it’s not unusual for someone to feel normal for days before realizing something is wrong. Over time, these injuries can often lead to paralysis that is difficult if not impossible to overcome. Any penetrating injury or trauma to the spinal cord can cause enough damage to lead to severe consequences.
If you begin to experience loss of movement, numbness, pain, or a loss of control over bodily functions in the days following your accident, seeking immediate care from a Tucker chiropractor will be important.
Getting Care After an Accident
No two people are the same, which means that even with the same injuries, your experiences after a car accident may vary. You know your body better than anyone, so it is important to be vigilant following any collisions and report any symptoms immediately to a care provider.
The team at AICA Tucker specializes in treating injuries related to car accidents and can help you to understand and manage your symptoms as they appear. Based on your unique case, we will create a personalized treatment plan, making use of chiropractic care, physical therapy, neurologists, and our extended staff. We will communicate with you regarding your injuries and the best plan to restore your health quickly. Call AICA Tucker today to schedule your first appointment.