5 Subtle Injuries After a Car Accident

As you get out of the car, you’re still trying to process what just happened. You quickly see if anyone has been hurt, and, for the moment at least, no one seems to need emergency care. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean no one is injured.

In movies and commercials, the classic injury suffered in a car accident is whiplash, which commonly causes pain or stiffness in your neck. However, there are more subtle symptoms that could indicate that you’ve been injured and need attention. Keep reading to find out how to recognize them and when to get help.

Back Pain or Stiffness

Although your neck and upper back muscles are the ones that stabilize your head, your lower back can easily be affected by a car accident. As a matter of fact, accidents are the leading cause of chronic back pain. Somewhere along the spine, something is out of alignment, whether it’s bones, torn ligaments, or pinched nerves. Your chiropractor can help you achieve proper alignment again and get relief from this and other types of pain.

Headaches

Even if you don’t hit your head directly, you can get severe headaches after a car crash from whiplash. In fact, it’s quite common to have headaches for a few days afterward. However, you should keep a close eye on them because they could mean that you have a concussion, a blood clot in the brain, or another serious injury.

Numbness

An injury to the spine doesn’t exactly have to cause pain. It can be as subtle as getting a numb feeling in your arms and hands. If you experience this, don’t ignore the symptoms that could be telling you something is wrong with your spinal column.

Impaired Function

When your brain gets jostled around in a car accident, it can suffer some trauma. As a result, you may find that certain tasks, such as moving, focusing, and thinking become more challenging. It then is important to see a doctor to make sure your brain isn’t damaged further.

Changes in Mood or Personality

As with your emotions, your personality and decisions come from your brain, and when it’s hurt in an accident, your loved ones may see noticeable changes in how you behave. Perhaps you’re more irritable and moody, or maybe you struggle with depression. In any case, it could point to a more serious injury.

Ultimately, you need to monitor or have a loved one monitor your more subtle symptoms so that you can recognize a potentially serious injury. By looking out for these signs, you can get help as quickly as possible and get on the road back to recovery.

About the Author

Dr. Zinovy Chukhman, or Dr. Z as he prefers to be called, is a graduate of the prestigious Parker College of Chiropractic and is certified by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Although he is proficient in all chiropractic areas, he specializes in treating accident and injury patients. If you experience a car accident and are noticing these symptoms, contact AlignRight Injury & Rehab online or by calling 972-907-2800.