Why Pain Sustained During an Auto Collision is Often Delayed

Motor vehicle accidents cause millions of injuries every year in the United States, ranging from relatively mild to severe and life-threatening. While many accident-related injuries cause symptoms that show up almost immediately, other injuries are associated with delayed symptoms that can take days, weeks, or even months to show up.

Accidents can be upsetting and disruptive, and it’s not uncommon to want to put the experience behind you as quickly as possible. But even if an accident doesn’t cause pain right away, you can have underlying injuries and delayed symptoms, which is why having a prompt medical evaluation is critical. 

At Kerinver Chiropractic, Josue Maysonet, DC, offers comprehensive medical evaluations and treatment for auto accident injuries, helping identify potential problems before the symptoms appear. If you’ve had a motor vehicle accident, here’s why having a medical evaluation right away is so important.

Delayed pain: why it happens

Post-accident pain can be delayed for different reasons, influenced by factors like the type of accident you have, the speed of the vehicles, and even where you are inside the car. The timing and severity of symptoms are also affected by your injury and the damage it causes your body.

Whiplash is a frequent car accident injury and a great example of delayed symptoms. Many people with whiplash notice no pain or limited pain immediately after the accident. But in the following days, swelling associated with whiplash injuries worsens, causing neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, or other symptoms. 

Back injuries can also have delayed symptoms as worsening swelling presses on nerves around your spine. You may not notice back pain until days or weeks later, particularly if the pain is associated with disc herniation or other injuries affecting your nerves.

Head injuries like concussions may cause very few symptoms initially, yet they can be some of the most severe accident-related injuries with potentially life-threatening complications. Dr. Maysonet looks for subtle signs of concussion, recommending specialists as needed for further evaluation and treatment.

Your body’s reaction following an accident can also cause symptoms to get delayed. Immediately after an accident, your body releases “stress chemicals” that help block painful symptoms. Once that chemical effect wears off, you have aches, pains, and stiffness.

Prompt medical care is critical

Regardless of the severity of your accident, it’s always critical to have a medical evaluation. Even a seemingly minor “fender-bender” accident can cause unexpected injuries to soft tissues, vertebrae, nerves, and other tissues.

Dr. Maysonet is skilled in identifying even the subtlest signs of injury, including injuries that aren’t causing noticeable or disruptive symptoms yet. During your exam, he performs a series of assessments and reviews the details of your accident. This review can help him determine the types of injuries your body may have sustained, even though there is a delay with the pain reaction.

Your evaluation also helps Dr. Maysonet determine the best course of care to prevent complications that can lead to long-term pain and disability. A medical assessment provides the information insurance companies need to process claims so you can get compensated for your injuries. Postponing an evaluation may make it harder to prove the effects of your symptoms, causing your claim to get delayed or even rejected.

Schedule your evaluation today

Car accidents affect different people in different ways. Postponing a medical evaluation can result in serious complications that can last for the rest of your life.

If you’ve been in a car accident, Dr. Maysonet can help, providing focused care and necessary documentation to help you navigate the claims process as quickly as possible. To schedule your evaluation, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Kerinver Chiropractic in Kissimmee and Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida, today.