How Long After an Accident Can Injuries Show Up?

In the hours and even days after a car accident, you may not notice any injuries at first. The whole experience can be overwhelming and stressful, and the last thing you may want to think about is whether or not the soreness and bruises you got from the car accident are a sign of something more. However, it is important to know that signs and symptoms of significant car accident injuries can develop slowly as the adrenaline leaves the body and the swelling goes down.

What seemed like some slight discomfort in your shoulder from the seatbelt might turn out to be something more serious when you realize weeks later that your shoulder is still stiffer than it normally is. What seemed like discomfort in your back and neck might start to raise alarm bells for you when you realize the pain is not going away. When it takes a while for your symptoms to appear or you realize they are not going away, it may be time to seek out an orthopedic surgeon to find out more about your car accident injuries.

Orthopedic surgeons and doctors address the entire body from head to toe and are well-versed in how car accidents can affect all parts of the body. Because some car accident injuries can take a while for symptoms to reveal themselves, here are few things to keep an eye out for that could signal a more serious injury:

Headaches

Headach es are not uncommon after a car accident, both as your body reacts to the physical experience of the event as well as your stress response. However, if you start to notice the headaches are lingering and you cannot quite shake the discomfort, a trip to the orthopedist may be necessary. Headaches can be a sign of a number of moderate to severe injuries that, if left untreated, can lead to long-term health consequences.

When seeking headache treatment after a car accident, your doctor may recommend a variety of medical options depending on the severity. In mild cases where the headaches are lessening in the days after a car accident, your doctor may prescribe at-home remedies to alleviate the pain and discomfort. For more moderate cases, like when a spinal misalignment is causing headaches, they may refer you to a chiropractor. In severe cases, headaches may be a sign of a more severe condition, and an orthopedic surgeon can review your symptoms, injuries, and determine the best course of action.

Neck Pain

One of the most frequent experiences of pain and discomfort after a car accident happens in the neck. That is because your neck and head are not restrained by a seatbelt and are susceptible to a significant amount of jostling and jolting upon impact with another car. Neck pain can also be a tricky symptom because it can signal a variety of injuries and can develop slowly over the course of days or even weeks as the muscles, spine, and soft tissues in the area react to the trauma.

Depending on the severity of the injury to your neck, you may want to see an orthopedic surgeon to discuss your treatment options when more non-invasive procedures have been unable to fully address your neck pain. Your orthopedic surgeon will utilize state of the art diagnostic imaging technologies to determine the root cause of your neck pain and supplement the treatment you have been receiving in order to get you on the road to true healing.

Back Pain

Even when your body is protected in a car accident by your seatbelt, you can still sustain significant damage to your back. Back pain can also develop slowly over time after a car accident and the type of injuries can vary depending on the location and source of your pain and discomfort. Back pain after a car accident can affect your daily habits and make it difficult to complete common movements without experiencing serious pain and discomfort.

Spinal injuries can be severe and require intervention from an orthopedic surgeon. However, treatment from an orthopedic surgeon does not always mean surgery; in fact, orthopedic surgeons are also dedicated to providing conservative, non-invasive approaches to care before resorting to more serious interventions. With that in mind, orthopedic surgeons use imaging and scanning tools to determine whether you could be a good candidate for more minimally invasive procedures before determining whether or not surgery is the best option.

If you have been injured in a car accident, don’t wait until the pain becomes unbearable before seeking out treatment from an orthopedic clinic with a team of medical professionals who specialize in auto accident care. AICA Orthopedics offers effective, comprehensive care from a team of doctors who will help address your pain, identify any hidden injuries, and help you on the road to healing and better health.