Car accident victims usually experience significant pain for several weeks after their accident. The speed and sudden nature of the impact can have devastating health effects. When is pain a sign of something more worrisome? Delayed pain after a car accident could indicate an injury, which is why health professionals recommend you undergo a medical exam as soon as possible after a car accident to rule out potential injuries.
If several weeks have passed since your car accident, and you’re still in considerable or worsening pain without a clear underlying cause, this post can help clear up your injury confusion.
Why Does It Take Weeks for Injury Symptoms to Appear After a Car Accident?
You may only notice injury symptoms in the days or weeks after an accident because the body’s natural defense mechanism can block pain receptors. In a car accident, your body goes into shock, releasing adrenaline and numbing the pain of any subsequent injury.
Your body will also send inflammatory cells to the area of a sudden injury. These inflammatory cells can impact the nerves at the injury site, temporarily reducing your sensitivity. As the inflammation begins to recede and your body is no longer in shock, you may experience severe pain.
How Long Does Car Accident Pain Last?
Severe accident-related pain and injuries take months and sometimes years to heal. However, most injury victims should begin to see a reduction in pain between six and eight weeks with minor injuries. Your care provider can help provide you a timeline for your recovery, which can include the date you’re able to return to work after your car accident and the timelines for taking pain medications.
Which Car Accident Pain Symptoms Potentially Indicate Severe Injuries?
Headaches at the Front of the Head
Headaches in which the pain seems to focus on the front of the skull and radiate outward may indicate a brain injury such as a concussion. If you’re experiencing headaches in addition to vomiting, memory loss, confusion, or nausea, you may have a brain injury. You should see a local emergency doctor as soon as possible to begin potential treatment when these symptoms occur.
Upper Back Pain
Upper back pain and stiffness in the upper body a serious sign that requires urgent medical attention after a car accident. Upper back pain is associated with spinal injuries such as broken vertebrae and damaged discs.
Lower Back Pain
You may notice lower back pain after a car accident when you’re trying to sleep or sit in your office chair. Lower back pain after a vehicle accident is associated with tissue damage and muscle injuries such as herniated discs and strained ligaments, which cause immense pain with movement.
Behavioral Changes
There are injuries you, as the victim, may be unable to detect. If your loved ones are worried about changes in your behavior after an accident, you should speak with a doctor, preferably a neurologist, as soon as possible to undergo testing. Personality changes such as angry outbursts, anxiety, a change in eating habits, and trouble sleeping are all signs of potential mental health changes after a car accident.
Numbness
Nerve injury is the primary cause behind numb areas of the body after a car accident. When the nerves carrying signals between the brain and the rest of the body are damaged, the damage blocks the brain-body connection. Your brain is no longer able to control these damaged areas. It’s common to lose partial sensitivity as your nerves rewire after an injury. If you’re experiencing a lack of sensation after a car accident, see a medical professional as soon as possible to address and potentially resolve the cause behind your nerve issue.
What If I’m Still in Pain After an Initial Post-Accident Exam?
If you’re still experiencing the symptoms of pain after undergoing a physical exam, it’s possible your symptoms were not visible initially and are now becoming worse. If pain symptoms continue despite using pain relief medication, visit a health professional for further testing.
What Are My Accident Pain Treatment Options?
Car accident-related pain treatment options include:
- Surgical intervention
- Pain-relieving medications
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
Don’t Let Medical Costs Prevent Your Car Accident Pain Relief
As you may already know, the potential treatments for your car accident pain will likely incur significant medical costs. Hospital bills, medication costs, and physical therapy treatments can extend into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, which can sometimes prevent a car accident victim from seeking further relief for their pain symptoms.
Jeffrey Penneys is your local Pennsylvania car accident injury lawyer. He helps injury victims like you recover car accident pain treatment costs by suing the at-fault driver and their insurance company for the costs of medical care.
If you’re experiencing persistent pain after a car accident over recent months, discuss your legal options over a free car accident case review with Jeffrey Penneys. Book your accident case review online or call 215-771-0430 to speak with Jeffrey Penneys and his team.
Car Accident Resources
Learn more about Car accidents in Philadelphia with the following resources:
- Car Accident Laws in Pennsylvania
- What is the average Pennsylvania car accident settlement?
- What to do if your car accident claim is denied?
- How long do you have to get a lawyer after a car accident?
- Should you hire a lawyer after a car accident?
- Guide to negotiating car accident settlements
- Can you sue a pedestrian for a car accident?
- Should you hire a personal injury lawyer if you’re not at fault?
- Don’t give a recorded statement after a car accident
- What to do when your insurance claim is denied?
- The leading causes of deadly teen car accidents