Getting from Point A to Point B in a vehicle has been an increasingly treacherous task almost since the invention of cars. Today, with increased commute times, roads clogged with traffic, and distractions like cellphones, even a quick trip to the grocery store can result in a trip to the emergency room. Fender-benders happen.
In fact, the National Safety Council reports that in 2017 alone, 4.6 million motor vehicle accidents occurred that resulted in injuries requiring a medical professional’s attention, typically called medically consulted injuries. Although that number is staggering, what’s even more interesting, and confusing, is that the impact of many auto accident-related injuries is often delayed.
You may walk away with little or no outward signs of an injury and figure you dodged a bullet, only to experience symptoms days or even weeks after the accident occurred. You’re not alone. Delayed injuries after car accidents are not unusual. In an accident, you have lots of endorphins and adrenaline coursing through your body that naturally block pain. It can be a normal response to have no pain sensation immediately after being injured.
Here, Jason Keller, DC, of iMed Regeneration Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, offers his insights on delayed auto-related injuries and their treatment based on his nearly two decades of treating patients as a highly trained chiropractor.
Listen to your body
You know your body better than anyone else. For instance, if you aren’t someone who typically gets headaches and you suddenly get a headache that just doesn’t seem to go away, that’s significant for you.
While a headache is not a bleeding injury or a broken bone, it can be a sign that something’s brewing that could be connected to your recent car accident. Headaches could be simply connected to stress, or they can be a symptom of something more serious like whiplash, a concussion, or a neck injury.
Tune into your body. If you notice something unusual for you — even if it seems minor — get it checked out by a medical professional.
Don’t wait to seek help
Headaches are just one example of symptoms that can occur hours, days, or weeks after an auto accident. Other symptoms include:
- Soft tissue injuries like whiplash
- Shoulder, neck, and back pain, which can indicate whiplash
- Tingling and numbness, which may indicate damage to your neck or a spinal column injury like a herniated disc
- Abdominal pain may signal internal bleeding or another traumatic injury that occurred when you were jolted against your seat belt
- Mood or behavioral changes like depression, irritability, or depression can indicate post-traumatic stress disorder or even a concussion
Again, the takeaway here is that if something just doesn’t seem right, have it checked out right away. If left untreated, many of these seemingly insignificant symptoms can lead to chronic, painful conditions.
Natural pain management and treatment are available
Car accidents and resulting injuries can make you anxious. Perhaps you’ve heard stories from family or friends about chronic pain from whiplash or back injuries and, in more severe cases, issues requiring back surgery. Add to that today’s hypersensitivity about dependence on pain medicine, and you may wonder where to turn for help.
The good news is that effective natural pain management and treatment procedures are available so you can avoid surgery and addictive pain medication. At iMed Regeneration Center, Dr. Keller develops customized treatment plans that engage your body’s own natural healing powers.
Nonsurgical, noninvasive treatment can include a series of manual chiropractic adjustments as well as physical therapy and exercise. Chiropractic techniques not only allow your own body to assist in the healing process; they can relieve pressure and pain so your symptoms don’t turn into chronic issues.
If you’ve been in a car accident and something just doesn’t seem right, contact iMed Regeneration Center. Our team performs a comprehensive exam and gets you back to feeling more like yourself again. Book a consultation online or call today.