After a car crash, many patients initially feel only mild symptoms and assume that their pain will naturally fade as the body heals. While this can be true for many car crash survivors, adrenaline can often mask the pain that frequently comes from whiplash auto injuries in the weeks following the accident. At Macomb Pain Management, our team of board-certified pain management doctors works alongside car crash survivors to help them manage the pain and injuries that are common in car crashes, like whiplash. We’ll take a closer look at whiplash injuries and what you should do in the weeks following a car crash.
Delayed Pain in the First Week After a Car Crash
After a car crash, many people believe that they’ve walked away uninjured, as adrenaline and shock can mask pain and other injuries you may have suffered. Even low-speed car crashes can generate significant force, causing immediate damage to muscles, ligaments, and joints. Besides pain, some of the other delayed symptoms patients may experience after a car crash include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches starting at the base of the skull
- Shoulder or upper back pain
- Limited range of motion
Symptoms may worsen over the next 24-72 hours after a car crash and can persist for years. Early treatment of whiplash auto injuries is the best option as it allows our team to intervene as early as possible to provide you with the best possible pain relief.
Understanding Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash injuries are by far one of the most common types of injuries patients suffer after an auto crash. Typically, a whiplash injury occurs during a rear-end collision when the head is forced suddenly backward and then forward. This rapid backward and forward movement of the head causes trauma to:
- Ligaments
- Muscles
- Tendons
In some severe cases, whiplash injuries can lead to fractures or other damage to the spinal cord that can be serious. Getting seen after suffering a whiplash injury is the safest way to ensure that your body is recovering properly and that you haven’t sustained any serious or permanent damage adrenaline may have initially covered up.
When to Seek Care for a Whiplash Injury
At Macomb Pain Management, we always recommend our patients seek medical care after a car crash, and especially if you suspect you have suffered a whiplash injury during the collision. Some of the immediate warning signs you should seek emergency medical care include:
- Severe neck pain
- Weakness or numbness in your arms or legs
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Severe dizziness or confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Intense headaches accompanied by vision changes
If you’re dealing with less severe symptoms like mild pain that continues to get worse or interferes with your ability to carry out your daily routine, we also recommend getting evaluated by a medical provider. Macomb Pain Management is here for all of our patients after a car accident and can help guide you on the next steps to support your recovery as smoothly as possible.
Whiplash Injury Care at Macomb Pain Management
After an auto accident, you don’t have to struggle with pain alone when you come under the care of Macomb Pain Management. Our team of board-certified pain management doctors and specialists is here to bring you the tools you need to manage your pain and recover. To schedule your first appointment, give our team a call today at (248) 844-8281.
