After sudden accidents happen, it’s common for those involved not to feel the injury effects right away. This is because, typically, our body goes into a “fight or flight” response, which activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers the release of adrenaline. Because of this natural response, your body may hide certain damages at that moment to make you feel like you are okay. Even car accidents that may seem minor still deliver a lot of force to your body that can cause various injuries.
Frequently, victims may not feel injury symptoms until hours, days, or even weeks following an auto accident. This is why it is always wise to seek medical attention after being involved in any car accident. Read to discover five hidden injuries that are common after being in an auto accident.
Brain injuries
When your body is hit by sudden force, you will most likely be pushed or pulled in specific directions causing unnatural movement and strain. Car accidents often make your head whip back and forth or even may cause your head to hit something inside your car. This puts passengers at risk for brain injury, which may even cause long-term damage.
A typical brain injury that can occur after being in an auto accident is a concussion. Symptoms may include a headache, confusion, dizziness, and memory loss. However, these symptoms can also be delayed and take time for a person to fully recognize.
Soft tissue injuries
Soft tissue injuries are prevalent following a car collision. Soft tissue includes muscles, tendons, and ligaments which can be found in nearly every part of your body. Some of the most common soft tissue injuries include sprains and strains, pinched nerves, rotator cuff tears, and bruises. People who have suffered from a soft tissue injury may experience swelling, inflammation, stiffness, sharp pain, and skin discoloration. Like many other car accident-related injuries, soft tissue injuries are not always evident immediately after the incident. If these symptoms show up days or weeks later, it is also common for people to not associate them with their accident.
Shoulder injuries
When wearing a seat belt, the strap only goes over one shoulder, which means the majority of the force from an accident will be put on that one shoulder if the collision causes you to be thrown forward. If the impact is severe, it may cause your body to twist in different positions that can also cause trauma to your shoulders. Bruising, shoulder strains or torn shoulder ligaments are all possible outcomes of being involved in an auto accident. Injuries to your shoulder often grow worse over time when left untreated and can even lead to long-term consequences.
Neck and back injuries
Neck and back injuries are perhaps the most common car accident-related injuries and are often caused by the whipping motion when a collision happens. Sometimes people will feel pain in these areas right away, but again, there are many instances when neck and back pain symptoms can be delayed following an accident. A few delayed symptoms may include a prolonged headache, pinching sensations, weakness or decrease in mobility, numbness or tingling, swelling, bruising, and tenderness. These symptoms can be delayed due to your body’s adrenaline reaction or because it can take time for symptoms such as swelling and bruising to appear.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
It’s important to remember that our bodies are not the only part of us that can become damaged after trauma. People will often experience intense feelings of stress and anxiety after being involved in an accident and even develop certain phobias of being in or driving a car. The human brain is very complicated, and when the body experiences sudden trauma it can affect our emotional and psychological state. A few post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms may include being easily frightened, always being on guard for danger, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, irritability, anger, and aggressive behavior. If you begin to notice that any of these symptoms affect your everyday life, it is vital to seek medical attention.
Medical Clinics of New York City
After an automobile accident, it is crucial to see a doctor right away. The doctors of Medical Clinics of New York City are dedicated to quality care, comprehensive services, and caring customer service in a welcoming, stress-free setting. We offer the best treatment for all types of neurological conditions and have the best skilled and experienced pain management doctors in New York City. Contact our offices today to schedule an appointment.
