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.
Why You Should Seek a Medical Evaluation After a Car Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6.7 million car accidents happen every year. Some of these accidents leave people seriously hurt with back pain, neck pain, and spinal injuries.
As a skilled spine surgeon, Patrick Hill, MD, often diagnoses and treats accident-related spine injuries. Dr. Hill recommends that you seek medical treatment after any car accident, even if you don’t feel like you’ve been injured.
Protecting your health after a car accident
There’s a lot of chaos that happens immediately after a car accident, even if it’s minor. Your adrenaline is flowing, and your mind is thinking about so many things at the time of the accident. If the accident is serious, your body may also be in a bit of shock.
For all these reasons, you may have underlying injuries and never know it. In some cases, people don’t develop pain or other symptoms of these injuries until several days later, when the injury is more difficult to treat.
When it comes to spine injuries, a prompt diagnosis matters. If left untreated, spine injuries and other accident-related conditions can lead to long-term health complications that affect your quality of life and your mobility.
Common spine injuries car accidents cause
A number of spine complications can result from the impact of a car accident. Whiplash is among the most common accident-related injuries.
Whiplash affects your neck (cervical spine) and occurs when the collision causes your neck to move forcefully back and forth. This can lead to persistent muscle pain and the loss of your range of motion in your upper spine.
Other accident-related spine conditions include:
Vertebral fracture
A vertebral fracture describes a break in the bony vertebrae of your spine. A fracture can range from mild to severe and cause persistent pain, mobility issues, and bone deformities.
Herniated disc
A herniated disc occurs when the protective discs that cushion your vertebrae rupture and the soft gel center pushes outward. This can put pressure on nearby nerves, leading to pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in your back, neck, legs, and arms.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one of your vertebrae moves out of place and collapses on the vertebrae below it. This can cause pain and the loss of your normal spine flexibility and function.
Cervical stenosis
Cervical stenosis is a condition that describes a narrowing in your spinal column. With less space in your spine, pressure on your nerves and spinal cord can cause persistent pain and ultimately lead to a disability.
Although cervical stenosis is a common age-related spine condition, the impact of a car accident can also cause your spine to narrow.
Treatment options for car accident spine injuries
We offer several treatment options for chronic back pain or neck pain that develops after a car accident. Depending on the severity of your condition, Dr. Hill may recommend one or more therapies to help you recover.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Bracing
- Activity modification
- Physical therapy
- Medications
For serious spine injuries, we offer minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery to remove damaged discs or to create more room in your spinal column. Dr. Hill helps you explore all of your options for treatments before recommending surgery.
To schedule a diagnostic evaluation after a car accident, call the office of Patrick S. Hill, MD, today, or book a consultation online.
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