A fender bender after a long day or a severe car crash can cause minor or major injuries, some of which you don't feel right away. After an accident, your body goes into fight or flight mode, preventing you from feeling pain or symptoms for hours to days after the crash.
Not knowing you have an injury after a car accident is common – until the adrenaline wears off and you begin to feel pain. Watching for worrisome symptoms for the first few days after a car crash is crucial.
If you're beginning to feel neck or back pain after a car accident, Dr. Jason Ablett and the Pinnacle Health Chiropractic team provide fast and efficient care.
Whether you have whiplash, a spine injury, or headaches, Dr. Ablett offers manual manipulations and other treatments to give you relief after an accident.
A car accident isn't expected – but when it happens, it causes physical pain, emotional distress, and financial burden. Although you can replace your car, you can't replace your body or mind after an accident.
The trouble with car accident injuries is that they don't always show up immediately – because of your body's fight-or-flight response. When you're in extreme danger or stress, the body revs up the production of adrenaline, which helps cover up pain and injuries.
In some cases, the adrenaline high goes away within a few hours; other times, though, it may take days to wind down. You may not notice symptoms of the following car accident injuries until a few days after the crash:
Many people also have emotional trauma, especially after a life-threatening car accident. Whether you caused the accident or were the victim, car crashes can be emotionally and physically draining and may have lifelong consequences.
After a car accident, ensuring you and your passengers are safe and off the roadway is crucial—but that's not the only step. Evaluating your injuries immediately, even if you can't feel much pain, is essential.
Assessing your skin, neck, back, and head is vital to finding injuries after a car accident. If you're in more than a fender bender, having an evaluation at an emergency room for hidden injuries is a good idea.
After the adrenaline of the incident calms down, be sure to keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
The symptoms of a car accident injury may not appear on the day of the incident. Some pain and bruising may take a few hours to a few days to appear, and you should seek treatment as soon as you notice these symptoms.
The sooner you seek treatment for car accident symptoms, the less likely they are to become severe or life-threatening, especially when they don't appear right away. Concussions and spine injuries are especially dangerous without the proper care.
You may be able to treat mild to moderate injuries on your own after an evaluation by a professional. They offer home care for injuries such as cuts, bruises, sprains, and other musculoskeletal problems.
The ER may also refer you to a chiropractic specialist like Dr. Ablett for follow-up care. Dr. Ablett specializes in musculoskeletal issues and headaches or rib pain. A few of the treatment options he offers include:
Dr. Ablett may suggest ice, heat, rest, and compression for sprains or strains after a car accident. He also advises taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to ease swelling and provide pain relief in the days following the crash.
Neck and back pain or headaches that persist after a car accident can benefit from regular chiropractic manipulations. During a manipulation, Dr. Ablett adjusts the joints to relieve pain. He may also use soft tissue therapy to relieve tight muscles or release muscle spasms and irritated connective tissue.
If you have tender areas in a muscle after a car accident, Dr. Ablett suggests trigger point injections for fast relief. A trigger point injection may include a local anesthetic or a steroid to relieve pain and relax the muscles for quick pain relief.
The car accident may have affected your body and mind, causing stress and consistent muscle tension. Dr. Ablett offers relaxation techniques to ease the stress of the accident and the body pain and tension it causes.
After a car accident, don't hesitate to call Pinnacle Health Chiropractic today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ablett or request an appointment here on our website.
