In A Car Accident? Understanding The Delayed Back Injury Signs
Posted on: 22 January 2018
After a car accident, you may think you're not injured if you don't feel any immediate pain. Unfortunately, many people don't realize that things like back injuries can actually appear later, sometimes days or weeks after an accident. Without proper medical attention for those injuries, you won't be able to pursue legal action against the responsible party. Before you dismiss the discomfort that you're feeling after an accident, you should understand the delayed signs of a back injury.
Pain And Stiffness In Your Neck And Shoulders
If you start experiencing stiffness and pain around your neck and shoulders, that's a key indication that you've suffered whiplash. It's one of the most common delayed injuries that occurs after an accident, and it can last as long as six to eight weeks after your accident. When you start to notice symptoms like this, you should talk with your doctor right away. This is a particular concern if you were rear-ended in the accident, because the motion of your body during a rear-end collision will trigger whiplash.
Persistent Headaches
Although having a headache can be a common problem after a car accident, persistent headaches that last for several days or weeks after the accident can be cause for concern. Persistent headaches can be an indication of many serious conditions, including concussion, whiplash, injury to your neck or head, and even blood clots in your brain. Don't dismiss headaches after an accident. Ask about an MRI or CT scan if there's a problem.
Pain In The Lower Back
Pain in your lower back is most common after a rear-end collision, but can happen after any accident. Sometimes it doesn't appear until a few days after the accident, particularly when the adrenaline settles down in your body and the muscles that were affected start to react to the injury. Remember that pain in your back can be indicative of injuries to the ligaments, vertebrae, and nerves in your back. Nerve and vertebrae damage in particular can be long-lasting and life-altering. You need medical attention right away if you start to experience discomfort in your lower back in the days or weeks following your accident.
Loss Of Feeling In Your Arms And Hands
If you start to notice numbness, tingling, or "asleep" feelings in your arms and hands after an accident, that's often an indication that you've suffered whiplash as a result of the crash. The discomfort is usually a result of nerve damage, so you'll want to have it evaluated right away. If the nerve damage is significant or left untreated, you may find that the numbness persists. This can affect your future and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Muscle Spasms
If you start to feel tightening and spasms in the muscles in your back, neck, or shoulders, this should also be cause for concern. This may indicate that the muscles were overextended in the accident. You'll want to see a doctor for a thorough evaluation. Even if muscle relaxers ease the symptoms, you'll still need to deal with the underlying injury. This should not be dismissed, because it can lead to further muscle tissue damage if you don't act when the pain appears.
Any kind of back injury should be taken seriously, but back injuries after a car accident can lead to long-term damage if you ignore the symptoms. Now that you understand the delayed signs that can indicate that you're having problems, you'll know when to see a doctor. If you're injured as a result of the accident, you should reach out to a neck and shoulder injury attorney as soon as possible. He or she can help you get the compensation that you deserve for your medical costs and your lost work wages.For more information, contact companies like Spooner & Perkins P.C. Attorneys at Law.
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