After a car accident, it may be fairly obvious that you've been injured.
A fracture, laceration, and many other types of injuries present themselves right away with apparent symptoms.
However, many injuries don't show any immediate symptoms.
Even if you can walk away and don't feel pain after a car accident, you should still see a medical professional, like a Nashville Car Accident Chiropractor.
You also need to stay alert for signs of an injury that show up hours or even days after your accident.
You should see a doctor right away after your accident, even without apparent symptoms.
A full physical examination from a chiropractor may find injuries before the symptoms ever appear.
This will allow them to start treatment right away before the injury progresses.
Even if you've seen a doctor, you should still look out for delayed injury symptoms in the days and weeks following your accident.
In the article below, we will look at a few delayed symptoms that might not show up right away that you should look out for after a car accident.
Table of Contents
How Long Will It Take For Injuries To Show Up After A Car Accident?
What Are The Symptoms of Shock After An Accident?
Delayed Injury Symptoms After A Car Accident
Headache
Back Pain
Neck or Shoulder Stiffness
Behavioral Changes
Tingling or Numbness
Pay Attention to the Signs
As we mentioned above, many car accident injuries show up right away.
But some take hours, days, or weeks to start presenting symptoms.
It's even possible for a life-threatening injury to lay dormant and worsen for weeks before it starts showing symptoms.
Injuries like internal bleeding and soft tissue injuries don't readily display symptoms.
Other times people mistake accident symptoms for minor ailments.
When it all comes down to it, the injury you have sustained will determine how long after your accident symptoms will appear.
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One of the main reasons symptoms are delayed after a car crash is because of shock.
Shock can keep you from feeling any type of pain after a car accident.
Following a car accident, there's a good chance you will be confused, stunned, or disoriented.
Even so, you need to be aware of any symptoms of shock in yourself or any other people involved in the accident.
The following are the basic signs and symptoms of shock you should look for after an auto accident:
Cool, clammy, ashen, or pale skin
Rapid pulse
Feeling agitated or restless
Any change in mental status
Difficulty or rapid breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Dilated pupils
A feeling of fatigue or weakness
Dizziness or fainting
If you are experiencing any symptoms of shock, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
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It is very common to develop headaches after an auto accident.
More often than not, they are completely harmless and will go away in time.
Sometimes, though, they can be an indicator of a more significant issue, like a head injury.
Headaches can be a sign of a blood clot on your brain, neck or head injuries, a concussion, or even a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
If you start getting headaches after your accident, even if it's been days or weeks, you should seek medical attention.
You need to be sure it's not a sign of a worse condition, like a TBI.
You need to be especially mindful of TBIs.
When you're involved in a car accident and hit your head, your brain's soft tissue could strike the hard interior of your skull.
This can cause bruising, swelling, bleeding, and damage to brain tissue.
A TBI can be life-threatening, even if your symptoms are delayed.
A headache is usually the first indicator of a TBI.
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Back pain a few hours or several days after an auto accident could be due to a herniated disc, a soft tissue injury, a spinal injury, a sprain, or whiplash.
If you experience numbness or tingling along with your back pain, you may have a pinched nerve.
Any type of back pain can be debilitating, making it hard to perform your everyday tasks.
It's important to seek immediate medical attention as soon as you notice your back pain.
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The impact of car accidents can damage your nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your neck and shoulders, causing severe pain.
The pain from this isn't always immediately apparent.
If you do develop shoulder pain or stiffness in your neck or shoulders, it could be a sign you've suffered whiplash, damage to your rotator cuff, or another type of soft tissue injury.
Ignoring those symptoms could lead to chronic, debilitating pain that could prevent you from working or doing tasks around the house.
See a doctor who can examine you and order imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to diagnose your condition.
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If you notice changes in your behavior or personality, it could be a sign of a brain injury or concussion.
Impaired memory, thinking, and movement, problems with vision or hearing, and depression are all warning signs of a brain injury.
Auto accidents are the third leading cause of traumatic brain injuries and the second leading cause of death from traumatic brain injuries.
If you notice any of the symptoms at any time, seek medical attention immediately.
You may even be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The sooner your doctor can diagnose you, the sooner you can begin treatments and make a recovery.
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If you notice tingling or numbness anywhere on your body after your accident, it could be a sign of a herniated disc or a pinched nerve.
If left untreated, these problems can cause severe pain and lead to other complications down the road.
It's crucial to treat these symptoms as soon as possible so you can begin treatment.
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It's always good when you're able to walk away from car accidents seemingly injury-free.
But it's not always a sign you're out of the woods.
You could have sustained numerous injuries that just aren't showing symptoms yet, and they might not show up for days or weeks.
Be very mindful of the symptoms we talked about above, and if you notice any of them at any point, visit a car accident chiropractor as soon as you can.
You do not want to end up with a chronic condition because you ignored the delayed signs.
If you think you need to see a medical professional after your motor vehicle accident, click the button below.
The experts at Advanced Injury Care will take care of you.