5 hidden injuries to watch out for after a car accident

Table of Contents

If you’ve been in a car accident, you’re probably dealing with a lot of questions and “to-dos.” Depending on the severity of the accident, you may need to call the police or family, plan alternative transportation, and may need to rearrange plans you had before the accident. Additionally, you’ll have to file an insurance claim while also experiencing psychological distress or trauma that can result from even a minor collision.

When you are involved in a car accident, your adrenaline increases. You need to remember that this hormone can mask pain, so you may not feel it at first, and some injuries may not be immediately apparent.

If you’re involved in a car accident, be aware of the following injuries that often don’t show up right away.

whipping

A whiplash or neck strain is one of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident. This is because a whiplash occurs when your head is forced back and then forward quickly, like when your car hits something and comes to an abrupt stop.

Without proper treatment, your neck injury may last for weeks, months, or even years. Dr. Escobar works with patients with whiplash to manage their pain, reestablish their range of motion, and prevent future complications.

concussion

Another more dangerous injury in a car accident is a concussion. You may not feel its symptoms right away, but delaying treatment may result in a longer recovery time. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury usually caused by a shock to the head. You can experience a concussion without losing consciousness.

Symptoms may be delayed and you may not notice them right away. Some symptoms include:

  • Headache
  • confusion
  • Not remembering traumatic events
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • ringing in your ears
  • Dizziness
  • tired

back or spine injury

Spinal injuries, even very serious injuries, are not always immediately obvious. If you have been in a serious accident, or even if the accident was minor and you have suffered severe trauma to your neck or head, it is best to assume that you have suffered a spinal cord injury.

Swelling and bleeding in or around the spinal cord can cause you to gradually feel numbness or paralysis. If you may have a spinal cord injury, it is important to receive treatment immediately after a car accident.

Progressive back injuries, while less serious, are still worrisome. Just like neck muscles can be injured in a car accident, back muscles can also be injured. You may not realize you have muscle soreness or injury until a day or two later.

Sprains, strains, or other soft tissue injuries

You might not think that your lower extremities can be injured in a car accident, but it’s quite common. And, just like the muscles in your neck and back, muscles in other parts of your body may not feel pain right away. Wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries are also common.

internal injury

Just as severe spinal cord injuries progress over time, so do different internal injuries. Internal bleeding may not be obvious right away, but it can be life-threatening. It is crucial to seek treatment for the aftermath of a car accident, especially when the accident was more than a low-speed collision.

If you begin to feel pain in the days after a car accident, seek medical attention. Your pain may be related to injuries sustained in a car accident.

Learn more about our auto injury clinic – Florida Pain Care Specialists

If you are in pain after a car accident and are browsing the internet looking for the best car injury clinic, the good news is you don’t have to look any further! Our car accident doctors will provide you with personalized treatment that’s right for you. We can assure you that our highly trained medical staff is ready to provide you with the care you need and deserve.

At Pain Care Specialists of Florida, our goal is to provide unparalleled patient care so you can return to an active, productive, and pain-free lifestyle after a car accident. Our clinic provides comprehensive interventional self-injury care and pain management services at 3 locations:

As a specialist in interventional pain management, Dr. Escobar’s approach is to address the underlying cause of pain through the use of interventional procedures such as spinal cord stimulation, platelet-rich plasma injections, epidural steroid injections and other innovative techniques. All of these can help you reduce pain and restore your quality of life.

We also offer telemedicine for pain management!

Make an appointment now, or you can call us at 954-322-8586.

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice and does not substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.