Car Accident
Between 20 and 50 million people per year suffer injuries as a result of car accidents.
Do you know what to expect physically after a car accident involving you or someone you know? This list will give you all the most common injuries resulting from a car accident and what the recovery process will be.
What to Expect Physically After a Car Accident
Even if you don’t think you have sustained an injury it is still advisable to visit your doctor. Some injuries, like whiplash, do not present until several hours or even days after the incident. The most serious cases can cause a concussion, which is dangerous if left untreated.
If you have been in a car accident, even if you don’t have any of the most common injuries on this list, be sure to visit your doctor or GP.
Shock/PTSD
A car or road traffic accident is a traumatic event. Even non-serious collisions can cause a degree of mental and physical trauma. One of the first things that you can expect after a car accident is for your body to enter into a state of shock.
The severity of the shock will depend on the person, but you may find yourself unresponsive to external stimuli and unable to process the events occurring around you. If unresolved, usually with the help of a medical professional, this can develop into PTSD which can have a lasting effect on your mental and physical wellbeing.
Whiplash and Other Delayed-Onset Injuries
Serious injuries such as cuts, burns, and breaks will be felt immediately. If you are in shock, as we’ve mentioned, you should seek immediate medical attention as the shock itself can prevent your body from registering more serious injuries.
Once the initial shock of the incident has passed, however, you may find you begin to develop some physical symptoms that you did not have at the time of the accident. As we’ve mentioned, whiplash can present itself several hours or days after the initial accident, but this is not the only delayed-onset injury.
Do not ignore symptoms such as dizziness, back, neck or shoulder pain, numbness, delayed onset bruising or abdominal pain. These could be signs of a serious underlying injury. Visiting a doctor immediately can save you a lot of time and money further down the line.
Persistent/Long-Lasting Injuries
Some injuries, such as broken bones or serious muscle injuries, can require prolonged, on-going treatment to resolve. Protracted physical symptoms are not uncommon after a car accident.
A round of physical therapy after a car accident or several visits to the chiropractor may be required for you to regain full mobility. The number of sessions required will depend on the severity of the injury, but we would recommend waiting not longer than 72 hours before making a physical therapy appointment.
The Bottom Line
Now you know what to expect physically after a car accident. If you’ve been involved in a car accident then don’t wait. Call your doctor or GP and schedule an appointment right away to prevent injuries from worsening.
Have you or someone you know been injuries in an auto accident? Find out more about our great rehabilitation centers or get in touch with all your personal injury questions.
Car Accident
The leading cause of death among young adults globally is car accidents. 1.3 million people die due to car accidents fatalities around the world. 58% of all police-reported car accidents are single collision while 38% start from a collision with another vehicle.
After car accident symptoms may not detectable immediately. In some instances, it may take a few days or weeks before the symptoms show up. As a victim of a car accident, seek medical help whether you are injured or not. Doing so gives the chiropractor or doctor time to evaluate your health.
In this article, we highlight the important after car accident symptoms not to ignore.
1. Headache
Headaches and dizziness are some of the after car accident symptoms. They are normally brought about by a blood clot, concussion, neck injury or whiplash. A headache may signify serious underlying issues.
For instance, if you hit your head, the soft tissue in your brain may impact against your skull. This can lead to bruising, bleeding and swelling. If you experience a headache days, you may have suffered a brain injury after a car accident.
Remember, don’t dismiss the headaches and dizziness. Seek medical help immediately.
2. Shoulder and Neck Pain
Whiplash or neck strain refers to symptoms that occur after a car accident. This is caused by a forward or backward jerking motion of the head in a car accident. Whiplash symptoms can be delayed for more than 24 hours.
Some of the symptoms you may experience include:
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Sleep disturbances
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Numbness or pain in the arm
As one of the most common car accident injuries symptoms, whiplash is diagnosed using imaging tests such as CT scans. This helps to identify injuries to the muscles, or discs. If you notice the symptoms of whiplash – shoulder and neck pain, schedule an appointment with us.
3. Numbness or Tingling
Tingling, numbness, and pain after a car accident may occur. This is as a result of a pinched nerve or a herniated disc. If the condition is not treated immediately, you will experience severe pain. Not only that. It may cause untold complications. Seeking treatment immediately will save your life.
4. Back Pain
Back Pain – Pain in the back area a few hours or even several days after a car accident may be a symptom of a herniated disc, soft tissue injury, spinal injury, sprain or whiplash.
If you experiencing numbness or tingling as well as back pain, you may have pinched nerves. All these conditions can cause debilitating pain and mobility challenges, so it’s important to seek treatment as soon as back symptoms may appear.
Quality Treatment for After Car Accident Symptoms
If you experience any after car accident symptoms, seek physical therapy in Tampa. To find the best medical center, search online using this keyword – physical therapy near me. Don’t ignore the symptoms until it’s too late. Always seek help from a trusted physical therapy center.
Looking for the best physical therapy treatment for common car accident injuries symptoms? We can help. Schedule an appointment and receive the best treatment.
Car Accident
It’s any driver’s worst nightmare: you experience a car accident first-hand. Now, you’re faced with deciding whether physical therapy after a car accident can help you heal.
The road to recovery after a car accident can be long and painful. In addition to repairing your car, you must also decide how to repair your body.
Let’s explore four of the top ways patients have benefited from physical therapy after a car accident so you make an informed decision for your health.
1. Prevent Long-Term Damage
Injuries from car accidents aren’t always visible on the surface. Physical therapy can address unseen issues that could affect your health in the future.
In general, physical therapy increases strength, mobility, and flexibility. These improvements not only help with immediate injuries, but can also help prevent lingering damage that may result in other issues.
Car accident victims often experience chronic pain or migraines if they’re not treated immediately or soon after an accident. Using physical therapy as part of your recovery plan gives you a better chance of healing completely.
2. More Effective Than One-Time Treatments
After a car accident, you may head to the emergency room to get checked out. But this initial visit may not be enough to treat all the problems you incur as a result of your accident.
Temporary fixes like a brace for neck pain or prescription pain pills aren’t enough to target the root issues.
Physical therapy works to cure your problem, not just treat it. As a result, you get real fixes that don’t just make you feel better, but ones that actually repair your body.
3. Avoid Surgery
Physical therapy provides a natural, safe solution for car accident victims. In some cases, it may help you to avoid costly invasive surgeries.
If your doctor has recommended surgery, it may be worthwhile to consult with a physical therapist first. It’s less risky because it’s non-invasive. Plus, you won’t be faced with a long, difficult recovery period that comes with most surgeries.
4. Doesn’t Require Medication
Physical therapy promotes activity, which can help to relieve pain naturally.
Many people who are in car accidents receive prescriptions for pain relief or anxiety. These medications may offer a short-term solution, but they’re not without risk.
Painkillers are notoriously addictive and could be difficult to quit using. This could lead to additional health issues in the future, including the potential to overdose.
On average, 46 people die every day due to prescription pills. The best defense is to avoid them altogether if possible.
Physical Therapy After a Car Accident: The Bottom Line
It’s clear that physical therapy after a car accident can be beneficial. In many cases, your insurance company will pay for it so you never see a bill.
Even if you don’t feel like your body has been traumatized, physical therapy can prevent future issues from occurring.
At AJ Therapy Center, we work with car accident victims to help you on your path to recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and start repairing your body safely and naturally.
Car Accident
Each year, between 20 and 50 million people around the world suffer non-fatal injuries from a road traffic crash.
Some are able to get away with minor scratches, scrapes, or cuts. While others sustain more serious injuries. They need extensive medical treatment and recovery is a long process.
Read on to learn some common car accident injuries and how they’re treated.
Whiplash
Whiplash or neck strain can occur when a sudden force causes the head to jerk forward or backward. This then stretches and tears the neck muscles and tendons.
Sometimes, the pain is immediate. But there are cases where whiplash pain takes several hours or days to appear.
Treatment includes icing your neck, taking painkillers, using a neck brace/collar, and applying moist heat. For best recovery results, consider physical therapy. This will help a lot with the pain, which could get worse over time if not treated early.
Broken Bones
Another common injury from a car accident is a broken bone or a fracture. A bone will break if it’s not able to sustain the force exerted upon it.
Recovery will depend a lot on the impact of the force, the location of the break, how old the patient is, his or her level of physical activity, as well as previous injuries.
For most broken bones, treatment is the same. Surgery will align out of place bones, which are then put into a cast. At around 3 to 4 weeks after the injury, new mature bones start to form.
Once the cast is off, doctors may suggest physical therapy to help restore normal range of motion, mobility, and strength faster.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A TBI or traumatic brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe. With mild TBI, rest and some pain relievers are enough to treat the accompanying headache.
Moderate or severe TBIs, on the other hand, are emergency cases. Treatment will focus on making sure the patient has enough oxygen, blood supply, and stable blood pressure.
To limit secondary damage to the brain tissues, surgery and medications are a must. Rehabilitation is also part of the treatment, especially for those who suffered significant brain damage.
Important: Don’t Delay Medical Treatment
Some injuries from car accidents take time to develop. You can’t 100% assess your injuries at the scene.
As soon as you feel symptoms such as pain, dizziness, or numbness, go see a doctor. You don’t want to risk any injury becoming worse and it helps a lot if you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Wrapping Up
Whiplash, broken bones and TBI are just some of the injuries associated with car accidents. Some of them require surgery, medications, and other interventions, while others will heal on their own given enough time and rest.
The important thing is if you’ve been in a car accident, get yourself checked. However minor you think an injury is, it could get worse without proper medical treatment.
For more articles like this, don’t forget to check out our wellness blog.
Car Accident
Were you just in a wreck and asking yourself what to do after a car accident injury?
There are 6 million car accidents in the United States every year, and 3 million of those accidents involve an injury. That’s half of the total accidents.
Even if you have no visible signs of injury, you may still have cause for concern. An injury may not present itself until well after the crash has happened. So what can you do when you need to get checked out?
Read on below to learn how to make sure you stay healthy after your accident.
Take it Easy For a While
Even in minor accidents, your body will likely undergo some trauma from the impact. It needs time to rest and repair.
Here are a few tips for you to keep in mind when recovering after an accident:
- Limit your physical activity
- Get enough sleep every night
- Make sure you have a good diet
- Drink plenty of water throughout the week
- Take vitamins if you think you aren’t getting enough in your diet
Making sure your body has what it needs to function correctly will help its recovery and get you back on your feet faster.
Don’t Wait to Get Checked Out
Did you know that delaying getting diagnosed with an injury can be grounds for insurance not to pay out the claim?
You need to start this process within 14 days of the accident to insure you don’t loose your right to make a claim. Even if you are only suffering from a little soreness or stiffness, it can be a sign of a bigger problem.
When you start the recovery process quickly, you are establishing a chain of events that link the accident to your injury. When you create this link, it is hard for your insurance company to ignore.
Find a Doctor to Diagnosis Your Condition
You can’t get treatment if you don’t know what’s wrong. Make sure you seek help at an immediate care facility or your primary physician.
While you may not be able to see the problem yourself, a doctor will be able to determine what the problem is and what you need to do about it.
Contact a Physical Therapist for Treatment
Once your doctor clears you, it is time to start managing your injury.
A physical therapist will provide you several services that can help treat your injury and help manage your pain. They can help in the following ways:
- Manual therapy to help with pain in muscles, joints, and ligaments
- Speed up your recovery time by helping improve your mobility and function
- Prevent chronic injury symptoms by doing constant work on your affected areas
- Prevent the need for surgery by stopping minor issues from turning serious
- Vasopneumatic devices to reduce swelling in problem areas
With these treatment options available, a good therapist will give you the right path to follow to recover from your injury.
What to Do After a Car Accident Injury: Final Thoughts
Now that you know what to do after a car accident injury don’t waste any more time.
Schedule an appointment with a physical therapist today to see how they can help. Contact us today to schedule an get things started!
Car Accident
According to the World Health Organization, between 20 and 50 million people suffer from non-fatal injuries after a traffic accident.
Those injuries can cause pain to flare up for the rest of your life if not treated properly.
Injuries shouldn’t be ignored, but.
Get with the program! Here’s what to expect from a Florida physical therapy treatment program so you can live a happier, healthier life.
The Q&A
During your initial physical therapy appointment, your physical therapist will need to ask questions to gain a detailed understanding of your pain.
These questions will include reviewing your everyday routine to discover which activities cause your pain to flare up.
Your physical therapist may also run tests. This tests can include measuring your:
- Balance
- Mobility
- Strength
- Range of motion
- Endurance
Then, it’s time to make a game plan.
The Plan: Physical Therapist Techniques
Your physical therapist will then develop a customized treatment to help improve your mobility and relieve your pain. Of course, there are other benefits to physical therapy, as well.
Here are a few types of physical therapy techniques:
Exercise
According to The New York Times, a study concluded that chronic exercise affects the body’s reaction to pain.
It can also make it easier to perform activities throughout your day.
Physical therapist techniques for an exercise regime can include both passive and active exercise.
For passive exercises, your physical therapist will lead your body through the exercises and apply a controlled amount of stress to your body.
For active exercises, it’s all you! These exercises include walking on a treadmill and leg raises to help you get that mobility back.
Ice Treatments
Ice treatments are often used during the initial phase of your Florida physical therapy treatment, but it’s not to escape the heat.
Ice decreases inflammation to keep the injured body tissue from swelling.
Heat Treatments
Your physical therapist may also use physical therapy modalities such as a deep heating ultrasound to help ease muscle spasms and sprains.
The heat can help relax your sore muscles and help increase circulation around those areas.
Electrical Stimulation
Another type of physical therapy modality is electrical stimulation. This technique decreases pain around the injured body tissue.
Massages
Take a breath and relax. Massages can help relieve your pain by improving the circulation around injured areas and easing tense muscles.
Other Techniques
Other Florida physical therapy procedures may include:
- Hydrotherapy/whirlpool baths
- Kinesiology Taping
- Iontophoresis
- Joint mobilization
- Traction
- Light therapy
Your physical therapist will discuss these options as you develop the therapy treatment plan that’s best for your condition.
Conquer the Pain with our Florida Physical Therapy Program
Discovering the right Florida physical therapy program that’s right for you is one of the first steps to recovery.
Contact us today to take the first step towards pain relief by scheduling an appointment with our team. Don’t underestimate your pain; conquer it!
