When accidents occur, our bodies produce a large amount of adrenaline and because of that, the impact of the crash may not become apparent right away. Adrenaline is a pain killer for the body and that pain one would feel is masked by the trauma of the accident and therefore the pain isn’t felt until much later when the adrenaline has worn off.
Common Injuries from auto accidents
Injuries don’t just occur at fast rates of speed, as injuries to the neck and back and even concussions can occur at slow rates. Even moving slowly, the seat belt can cause shoulder injury as well as whiplash. Injuries to the back can result in herniated discs as well as the discs slipping out of place causing chronic pain. Spinal cord damage is also possible and can be associated with head trauma and disorientation.
Serious injury possible without pain
Statistics show that the worst injuries from accidents are from delaying treatment making the injured person suffer chronic pain that may not have been severe had they seeked medical treatment sooner. This chronic pain can make your life increasingly difficult and have long lasting effects.
After auto accidents, it is highly recommended that one seeks medical treatment to rule out any injuries that may not be present right away. Typically after an accident, a trip to the Emergency Room is your best course of action as X-Rays and exams can be conducted ruling out severe injuries or receiving care to injuries that may have occurred. However, if nothing is serious looking on the surface, most are sent home with medication and told to come back if anything else presents as alarming but most are unsure about what to look for.
If you find yourself in this period of waiting or are unsure if you have sustained an injury that was not diagnosed at your initial trip to the Emergency Room, contact our Atlanta orthopedic doctors at (404) 592-1186 today so we can answer your questions and provide you with the care you deserve!