The 5 Most Common Injuries After an Auto Accident

If you’ve been in a car crash, you might be experiencing pain and discomfort afterwards. It’s possible that you can be experiencing one of these injuries after your auto accident:

1. Whiplash

One of the most common injuries after an auto accident is whiplash. This injury occurs when the head is jerked rapidly forward and back. Immediate symptoms include dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, limited range of motion, and headaches. You are most likely to experience whiplash during fender-benders, rear-end crashes, or high speed crashes.

Whiplash can take up to three months to heal. Potential long term impacts include chronic neck pain, pain throughout the shoulders or arms, and headaches. If you’ve experienced whiplash, you may be able to treat the area by alternating cold and hot packs, taking over-the-counter meds, getting massages, or seeing a chiropractor.

2. Head or Brain Injuries

Another one of the most common injuries after an auto accident is head or brain injuries. These injuries can include headaches, cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Head injuries are often experienced in conjunction with whiplash. After your head injury, if you experience slurred speech, nausea, severe headaches, blind spots, trouble sleeping, then that may be a sign of a concussion or something worse. In this case, contact a medical professional right away if you are exhibiting any of those signs.

Long term effects of a severe head injury can be anxiety, depression, mood swings, persistent sleep troubles, light and sound sensitivity, and chronic headaches. For the best treatment for your head injury, consult with your doctor.

3. Soft Tissue Damage

If you’ve received injuries after your auto accident, they could likely be soft tissue damage. Like whiplash, soft tissue damage occurs when your connective tissue is over-extended. This can include damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These injuries after an auto accident may not hurt right away. By the time you experience problems in the areas, you may not even associate it with the crash.

Long term damage to the soft tissue could be numbness, pain, limited mobility, limited muscle strength, or even loss of function. However, you can treat the areas with proper warm ups before exertion, rest, ice, compression and elevation. If the area still gives you trouble, see your local chiropractor for professional care.

4. Back and Spinal Cord Injuries

One of the most severe common injuries after an auto accident is a back or spinal cord injury. This can include a fractured spine or herniated disc. Symptoms of a back or spinal cord injury are back pain, weakness in legs, limited range of motion. These injuries are more likely to occur in rollover accidents or high-speed collisions. You can also sustain a back or spinal cord injury if you are thrown or hit by a car or truck while walking or riding a bike.

At worst, an injury to the spinal cord can cause complete or partial paralysis. If you have a severe back or spinal cord injury, you may need to relearn basic everyday functions. Other long term impacts include back pain, decreased blood flow, and respiration issues. However, back and spinal cord injuries after an auto accident can be treated. Medical professionals, like a physical therapist or your local chiropractor, can work with you to decrease pain and increase mobility.

5. Arm and Leg Injuries

While the head, neck and back are the most common site for injuries after an auto accident, the arms and legs are vulnerable too. Injuries to your arms and legs can include broken or fractured bones, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and muscle sprain.

Damage to your arm and leg is most likely to occur during side collisions, high-speed crashes, if you’re thrown from your vehicles, or if you are hit while walking or riding a bike. If left untreated, the long term impacts could be chronic pain, limited mobility, and nerve or tissue damage. After your accident, if your arms or legs are injured seek medical treatment for the best care and aftercare options.

Don’t Wait

After your car accident, get a medical exam as soon as you can. Seeking medical care at the scene can save you from further injury and expenses. Even without obvious external injuries after an auto accident, you could still have internal damage or bleeding. Don’t wait and put your health at risk. If left untreated, internal damage could cause potentially life-threatening complications.

Learn More About Chronic Pain Treatment

If you’re experiencing pain from injuries after an auto accident, let us help you overcome it. At Essential Chirocare, we promise the best of care to ease or eliminate short-term or chronic pain. If you want to learn more, check out this eBook.