Why Am I Just Now Feeling Pain Days After My Car Accident?
If you get into a car accident, the shock can delay the onset of painful symptoms. Here, we explore why that happens and what to do if you start hurting a few days afterward.
3 Signs You Have Whiplash
Whether you got into a car crash, had a sports accident, or had a traumatic injury that impacted your neck, you’re probably closely monitoring how it feels.
As well you should. Whiplash is a common outcome after a sudden force moves your head. Your neck — from the cervical (upper) spine to the muscles and connective tissues — has to work hard every day to support your head. A force causing a sudden movement can injure your neck, leaving you with whiplash.
Fortunately, if you have this uncomfortable condition, Patrick S Hill, MD, can help. Specializing in car accidents and resulting neck pain, he has extensive experience treating whiplash. At our office in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles, California, he can help you find the treatment you need to relieve your symptoms and heal your neck.
So, should you pay us a visit? Here are a few indicators you have whiplash.
Three signs of whiplash
Whiplash varies in severity. For some people, it only causes symptoms for a few days and heals on its own. For others, it requires medical treatment and can cause discomfort for months and even years.
We use a grading scale called the Quebec Classification of Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) to evaluate whiplash. Breaking down the symptoms and how they correspond to the scale can help you better understand whiplash.
1. Neck pain
If you have neck pain, you fall into Grade 1 of the WAD system. You might notice your discomfort worsens when you move your neck or that the area feels tender to the touch.
2. Spasms and signs of injury
Grade 2 on the WAD scale means you have neck pain plus visible signs of whiplash, like bruising or swelling. Muscle spasms as you move your neck also fall into Grade 2.
3. Neurological effects
The inflammation from your whiplash can impact nerve signals, causing symptoms like the following:
- Headaches
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness
- Pins-and-needles sensations
- Vertigo
You fall into Grade 3 on the WAD scale if you have these symptoms.
Getting relief from your whiplash
Wherever you fall on the Quebec Classification of Whiplash-Associated Disorders, you want to find relief from your discomfort.
Dr. Hill personalizes a whiplash care plan for you and your symptoms. That might include:
- Hot and cold therapy
- Immobilizing your neck
- Medication
- Physical therapy
If your whiplash doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, you may have something more serious going on, like a fractured vertebrae. In some cases, you may need minimally invasive spine surgery to get relief. Fortunately, Dr. Hill specializes in these procedures.
If those whiplash symptoms sound familiar, call our office or schedule your appointment online today to get the care your neck needs.
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