Pain After a Car Accident

Types of pain

You will often experience pain after a car accident. Car accidents and the force that is sustained in them can cause serious injuries to many parts of the body such as broken bones, concussions, sprains and strains, and back and neck pain. In addition to all of these, car accidents can trigger pain syndromes such as CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. All of these injuries also cause pain and suffering.

Delayed pain

Some types of pain that can be delayed are headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders also called whiplash, back pain, numbness, tingling in the limbs, abdominal pain, and emotional pain and suffering.

Symptoms of whiplash typically appear within 24 hours but some may develop after a few days and can last for several weeks or months.

Dizziness or a nagging headache: A neck injury, whiplash injury, concussion, or even a blood clot can lead to dizziness and headaches. It may take a few days after the accident for these symptoms to manifest, but they should be taken seriously. Consult a medical professional if you experience any of these symptoms.

Headaches could be stress related or a sign of a concussion, brain injury, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Radiating pain, especially down the legs or arms: pain that spreads out from the original injury site — radiating pain — is a common and important warning sign after a car accident. It’s usually caused by damage to the intervertebral discs, the cartilage pads that cushion each vertebra and let the spine move smoothly. When a disc is damaged in a crash, it can press on nearby nerves, sending pain, tingling, or numbness (paresthesia) down into the arms or legs. Weakened muscles around the spine can make this worse, since they no longer support the spine as well, increasing pressure on the discs and nerves.

Radiating pain doesn’t always show up right away. It’s common for a physician treating a crash victim to focus first on more visibly serious injuries, like a fracture, and only discover a ruptured disc once those other injuries have healed. Pain can also persist after spinal surgery itself, sometimes because scar tissue has grown around nerve branches and is putting pressure on them independent of the original injury.

Back pain especially in the lower back could be a whiplash-related injury or a sprain, herniated disc, or a soft tissue injury such as muscle damage. If you have any numbness or tingling in the extremities, you might have a herniated disc pressing up against the nerves of the spine.

Abdominal pain could signal an internal, soft tissue injury that should be taken very seriously because, left untreated, it could be fatal. Internal bleeding may also cause headaches, dizziness, and bruising. Go to the nearest emergency room if you experience abdominal pain after a car accident.

Treatments

It is very important that you seek medical treatment after being injured in a car accident. Treatments for pain or injuries sustained in a car accident can be serious and life altering.

Seek medical treatment for any back pain, dizziness, headache, or abdominal pain as these can all be symptoms of a more serious injury such as a concussion or internal bleeding.

Depending on the injury, rest, physical therapy, medication, or sometimes surgery may be needed. For radiating pain from a disc injury specifically, treatment may involve medication to manage pain and inflammation, physical therapy to strengthen the surrounding muscles, or, in severe cases, surgery to relieve pressure on the affected nerve.

Injury case next steps

If you were injured in a car accident, and have pain whether it was at the time of the accident or delayed, the first thing to do is to seek medical treatment from a medical professional.

Then, contact a personal injury lawyer that can help you file a claim against the insurance company of the driver that hit you. A personal injury attorney can help you recover medical costs, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.

The Traub Law Office is here to help with your claim and be there every step of the way while you get treatment and on the road to recovery.

Call us at (512) 246-9191 or contact us online.