If You’re Having Stiffness or Pain After Being Rear-Ended, Don’t Ignore it. Here’s Why.
It’s Not Nothing.
With the relief of an “Oh, that was nothing!” car accident comes an unfortunate set of misconceptions, especially as it relates to your physical well-being. Because of this, it’s important to remember that a minor car accident is still a sudden, potentially traumatic event that can bring a variety of physical repercussions, including:
Shock
Whiplash
Bruising
Back Pain
Numbness or Tingling
Head trauma
Why You Should Never Ignore Your Symptoms
We don’t say this to be alarmist, but rather to make sure the seriousness of the situation comes across: ignoring pain after a car accident can lead to serious complications. Even if you are triaged or examined at the scene, it’s still important to seek medical treatment for any pain or stiffness that persists after an accident.
Failing to treat pain and stiffness can lead to mobility issues, prolonged discomfort, chronic pain, and serious emotional distress over time. These issues can all be mitigated with the appropriate medical care.
See a Medical Professional
If you don’t see a medical professional right after your crash due to a lack of perceived injuries, or you see one and are cleared of anything serious but are still experiencing muscular pain or stiffness, it’s a good idea to seek a second (or first) opinion from a specialized medical professional, like a chiropractor or physical therapist.
A good chiropractor will work with you to pinpoint the source of your discomfort, and they’ll create a results-oriented treatment plan to help target the root cause of your pain in order to get your mobility back to where it needs to be. It may be tempting to brush that discomfort under the rug, but you’ll find substantial relief–and see an improvement in your quality of life–if you and a skilled medical professional address it sooner rather than later.