The aftermath of a car accident can be filled with anxiety and confusion. Your thoughts could be racing or you may have the sense of a slowing down of time. You are under an immediate increase in stress regardless of how serious the accident is.
The first thing you need to assess is if you need to seek immediate medical attention. Do not hesitate under any circumstance to go to a doctor to assess your need for medical care.
Many injuries are not immediately obvious, even some serious injuries. If an ambulance arrives, do not hesitate to let the medical emergency responders look you over even if you believe you are uninjured from the auto accident.
Below are common injuries that can occur in car accidents. Only a medical professional will be able to determine the severity of your injuries, and what type of treatment you will require. The next step will be to see a doctor of chiropractic to address the structural, soft tissue and other healing needs that regular medicine does not address. If you want to regain the best healing outcome possible, this is a critical step.
Skipping healing medical care could postpone your recovery and result in more pain and injury.
Checklist of Symptoms You May Experience After an Auto Accident – Seek Immediate Medical Attention if You Experience Any of These Symptoms
Under no situation should this symptom list replace the examination by qualified medical personnel after a car accident. You should ALWAYS be evaluated by a medical doctor and a chiropractor after an auto accident. A visit to the chiropractor should be the next stop after a medical doctor has ruled out or treated you for any potentially life-threatening injury.
Symptoms After a Car Accident Include
Loss of consciousness
Dizziness
Vomiting
Migraine/Headache
Fatigue
Confusion
Blurred vision
Sleep disorder
Amnesia
Memory loss
Irritability
Sensitive to noise
Loss of concentration
Change in temperament/personality
Trouble finding words/speech problems
Trouble saying/pronouncing words
Loss of motivation
Increased emotional sensitivity/Can’t control emotions
Sexual dysfunction
Trouble doing math
Trouble remembering names, phone numbers, birth dates of people close to you
Unable to repeat a series of numbers given to you
Depression
Anxiety
Discomfort in the neck, shoulders, back, arm, wrist, hip, legs, ankle, or foot. Although the neck and shoulder areas are commonly affected, force can cause injury to other parts of the body.
Abdominal pain or swelling
Chronic wide-spread pain
PTSD
Numbness in arms and/or legs
Get IMMEDIATE Treatment. Because your body produces an increase in adrenaline starting immediately after an accident, the full effect of your injuries might not be obvious right away. The symptoms on the above checklist could indicate serious injuries including:
Broken or displaced joints, bones, or ligaments causing pain now or later
Back injury to muscles, spinal cord, spine, or cervical neck injury
Traumatic Head/Brain Injuries: Brain injuries can be serious even in a “minor” accident.
Do Not Delay Treatment
Whether you choose to get proper medical attention at the hospital or doctor’s office don’t delay. Once you have verified or treated the injuries requiring immediate medical attention go to the chiropractor. Chiropractic care treats the structural and soft tissue damage from car accidents to recover as fully as possible. Your body may need some gentle nudges to go back to where it was pre-accident.
FREE 10-Minute Vehicle Accident Consultation
This non-invasive, gentle treatment can bring IMMEDIATE pain relief and helps your body unleash its full healing ability.
Have questions about a car accident you were in? We offer a FREE 10-Minute consultation to see if chiropractic care could help you regain pain-free living. Call 512-892-2160.