What You Need To Know About Delayed Pain From a Car Accident

During a car accident, a lot of damage can happen in a brief period and in Brooklyn, New York we know a lot of auto accidents happen each year. Injuries are immediately apparent and sometimes can happen the next day because of the bleeding. However, just because an injury is apparent doesn’t mean it is serious. On the other hand, just because you don’t seem to have symptoms following a car accident doesn’t mean you’re not injured. Delayed Pain after a car accident is a common situation and could result in complications if not treated promptly.

What Are Some Common Delayed Symptoms From a Car Accident?

Delayed pain and symptoms after a car accident can take many different forms. Here are a few common symptoms and what they might mean:

• Delayed back pain after a car accident may mean a spinal sprain or fracture, vertebral misalignment, herniated disk, or another type of spinal injury.
• Headaches could mean a concussion or a more serious brain injury. Even if you did not strike your head against something during the crash, your brain could become injured from impacting the inside of your skull.
• Abdominal pain could be a sign of internal bleeding, a potentially life-threatening condition.
• Neck pain could mean whiplash, which is a soft tissue injury and can have serious complications. It could also mean damage to the upper spine.

Symptoms of an injury from a car accident can be delayed for hours, days, or sometimes weeks.

Why Are Car Accident Injuries Delayed?

There are a couple of reasons for pain after a car accident is delayed. One reason is that sometimes it takes time for the body to react to the damage. For example, if you have a ligament sprain or other soft tissue injury from a car accident, the swelling and inflammation aren’t immediately evident. Similarly, symptoms of internal bleeding may not develop until you have lost enough blood.

Another reason for delayed car accident injuries is the way that the body reacts to a sudden threat. If you are in a potentially life-threatening situation, the sympathetic nervous system activates and floods your system with endorphins and adrenaline. Endorphins are naturally occurring painkillers, while adrenaline is a hormone that increases the flow of oxygen to your tissues and makes you feel more alert and energized. This is sometimes called the “fight or flight” response and is intended to help you cope with a threatening situation.

While a car accident only lasts a few seconds, it may take several hours for the parasympathetic nervous system to restore balance. Adrenaline and endorphins may mask symptoms of injury until they wear off, at which point the pain may become evident.

What Should You Do About Delayed Pain After A Car Accident?

If you experience any pain or unusual symptoms after a car accident, you should go immediately to the emergency room for an evaluation. They could be a sign of a life-threatening injury. Better yet, don’t wait to see if you experience any delayed symptoms but see a car accident doctor in Brooklyn, NY, immediately after the collision or as soon as possible after authorities allow you to leave the scene.

The prognosis, or likelihood of recovery, for severe injuries from a car accident may be better if they are diagnosed early. A doctor can perform a thorough evaluation to detect any severe injuries even if you are not experiencing symptoms yet. If you are injured, treatment can begin immediately. If not, then you have peace of mind knowing that you will not have to deal with any unpleasant surprises during the upcoming days and weeks.

Injuries from a car accident can affect several systems at once. With our multi-specialty approach, Metro Healthcare Partners in Brooklyn, NY, can diagnose and treat injuries from a car accident. Don’t wait for delayed symptoms, schedule an appointment with us right away.