How to Tell If You Have Post-Injury Consequences

Accidents can occur anytime. They are unpleasant experiences that most people would love to put behind them. If you walk away unscathed following an accident such as a car crash, you will be among the lucky few. Thankfully, most people will only report minor injuries like scratches and bruises after a car accident.

Despite how minor the accident might be, it might result in some form of injury. The way our bodies react to injuries varies from person to person. Some mental, physical, and emotional trauma might not be immediately noticeable. To some, symptoms might take days and even weeks before presenting any signs.

If you have been involved in an accident and wondering about post-injury consequences, here are some of the signs to look out for:

1. Numb Sensation

Following an accident, you may not feel any form of numbness. However, if you start feeling any tingling or numbness on your body after a while, it might be an indicator of an underlying injury. Numbness can indicate blood clots, nerve, and spinal injury or lack of blood supply to an area. Injuries such as whiplash may also be presented through the numbness. It is important to contact medical professionals such as spine specialists or physical therapists to diagnose and treat any injuries causing tingling or numbness.

2. Headache

Headaches are common after an accident. The severity may range from mild to severe headaches that last several days. Most people involved in accidents treat headaches with typical medication and hope that the effects will wear off. However, if the headache persists, it could indicate a more severe condition such as a concussion or a blood clot.

Headaches followed by memory loss, dizziness, or nausea can also indicate a traumatic brain injury. Neck and skull injuries or tension and stress might be presented through headaches.

3. Shoulder and Neck Pain

Accident victims sometimes experience pain in the neck and shoulders long after the accident happened. In such instances, the problem may be bigger. Whiplash is a spinal injury caused when a sudden force thrusts the head and neck forward and backward fast. Patients will report symptoms like pain on the neck and shoulders, a stiff neck, and sometimes upper back pain.

For instance, when a car hits yours from the rear, you might quickly get whiplash. Depending on the severity of the injury, your doctor might advise home remedies or recommend you see a chiropractor. The cost of treating shoulder and neck pain might be too high for some accident victims, and they might need compensation to cover the bills. Whenever this happens, accident victims can check this site for assistance in seeking damages. It’s important to have professionals help you assess what happened and determine the legal options you can use when an accident occurs.

4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Accidents involving motor vehicles are the leading cause of PTSD in the US. The country witnesses an estimated six million motor vehicle injuries resulting in over 2.5 million injuries. Most people associate PTSD with military and police personnel. Accidents such as car crash often leave the people involved with strong feelings such as nightmares and trouble sleeping, constant uneasiness, excessive anger or worry, or anxiety when they think about driving.

These might be symptoms of PTSD. In case of such persistent symptoms, it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately. The cost of treating PTSD might be too high for some accident victims, and they might need compensation to cover the bills. 

5. Abdominal Pain

Pain in the stomach after having an accident might point to a more severe problem. Individuals may experience pain and discomfort in the stomach. The pain may last a while or come in bouts. One of the leading causes of abdominal pain following an accident is the seat belt. The seatbelt is designed to restrain you in the event of a crash, and the violent movement during a car crash might cause you some pain.

If the pain persists, followed by dizziness, vomiting, nausea, or stomach cramps, this might indicate internal bleeding. Raptured or swollen intestines might result in internal bleeding. In the case of these symptoms, it is wise to see a doctor to immediately avoid further complications.

6. Back Pain

Some people report mild or severe back pains repeatedly experienced after an accident. Back pain, especially on the lower part, might be caused by a soft tissue injury, injury to the spine, or a herniated disc.

Discogenic pain is usually experienced when spinal discs are damaged due to sudden force or trauma on the spine. This pain occurs in the lower back. Spine specialists can help treat this condition.

Whenever you get involved in an accident, it is always best to see a doctor as soon as possible—postponing seeing a doctor might lead to serious medical complications and high treatment costs.