Chiropractor in Portland, OR

Injuries After Car Accidents: Symptoms, Diagnoses, and Treatment Options

You’ve been in a car accident.

You walked away with a headache, a few minor scratches or bruises, and frazzled nerves, but with no broken bones or noticeable injuries you’re good to go, right?

Not necessarily.

Some car accident injuries may initially be masked and manifest in the days, weeks, or months following the accident.

Here we examine some potentially hidden symptoms of car accident injuries, when they may become evident, and what treatment to seek for prompt diagnosis and healing.

Table of Contents

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How Long Can It Take To Feel the Effects of a Car Accident?

Some symptoms will be immediately evident following a car accident, while others may develop over time or present when an activity is resumed. The symptoms may be noted in a few days, weeks, or months following an accident.

New health symptoms should not be ignored and you should seek prompt treatment so they do not increase in severity or seriousness. Head injuries, in particular, may present at a later time if slow swelling or bleeding occurs.

Examples of symptoms that may develop over time include:

  • Headaches
  • Whiplash
  • Pain down the arms or legs
  • Chest, neck, or abdominal pain
  • Internal bleeding
  • Emotional changes or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
how long after car accident to feel injury

Why Some Injuries After a Car Accident Aren’t Apparent Right Away

There are multiple reasons why injuries aren’t evident immediately following an accident.

Seeking prompt medical attention is important to determine acute injuries and the potential for symptoms of injuries to develop later.

Adrenaline and Endorphins

Immediately following an accident, you likely experienced an adrenaline rush causing elevated heart rate, increased blood pressure, and surges of energy. 

Endorphins may have also be released, ​​which are the brain’s feel-good transmitters.

Adrenaline is a hormone activated when the body experiences a physically or emotionally stressful event and requires extra energy to cope with the unusual strain.

Both adrenaline and endorphins surges can mask pain and injury symptoms, and may last a few minutes or a few hours. Once your body is no longer experiencing the effects of these hormones, injuries and pain may become more evident.

Swelling

Swelling is a normal response of the body’s immune system to injuries. White blood cells, proteins, antibodies, and fluids are sent to areas of injury to help with healing.

The excess fluid and immune response leads to inflammation at the site of injury. This response may be evident hours, days, or even weeks following an accident — and can also take an extended time to heal.

Chronic swelling and inflammation may indicate the injury is not healing, and may result in:

  • Muscle atrophy
  • Weakness
  • Decreased flexibility
 

Seek medical attention for continued swelling and inflammation to ensure the injury does not become permanent.

Bleeding

Depending on the severity of the impact, internal bleeding may result from being jarred within the vehicle or from protective equipment such as airbags or seatbelts.

Internal bleeding from an injury may not be noted immediately following an accident, even through a medical evaluation.

Symptoms of internal bleeding may include:

  • Coughing or vomiting blood
  • Blood in urine
  • Tender or rigid areas in the body
  • Bruising on chest or skull
  • Signs or symptoms of shock
 

Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms of internal bleeding are present.

Protective Movement

Injuries can go unnoticed if you only participate in activities with a limited range of motion following an accident. However, when you resume your normal activities, you may find an injury that was not previously evident.

For example, you had an accident a few weeks ago, and are playing tennis with a friend. You’re feeling great — until you attempt to serve and experience severe shoulder and neck pain. Is it an acute injury, or is it a latent injury from the accident you’re only now noticing?

Seeking medical attention and chiropractic evaluation is important to:

  • Diagnose the injury
  • Speed the healing process 
  • Protect you from further exacerbation of the injury
  • Decrease the likelihood of developing chronic injury symptoms
 
how long after car accident can it take for injury

How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear? Common Injuries at Varied Post-Accident Time Intervals

24 to 48 Hours After the Accident

Within 24 to 48 hours, symptoms from the following injuries may develop:

  • Concussion
  • Whiplash
  • Bruises, sprains
  • Headaches
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Back or neck pain
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Fatigue
  • Disc herniation

Days or Weeks After the Accident

Days or even weeks following the accident, the following symptoms may develop:

  • Internal bruising or bleeding
  • Muscle soreness
  • Joint instability
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Anxiety 
  • Depression
  • Amnesia
  • Behavioral changes

Months After the Accident

Symptoms from a car accident can sometimes take months to appear because the body’s healing process varies. These may include: 

  • Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, and whiplash
  • Shoulder pain from a torn rotator cuff or shoulder dislocation
  • Back pain such as sciatica pain caused by a herniated disk.
  • Paresthesia (limb tingling and numbness)
  • Concussions and head injuries that manifest as headaches, dizziness, or cognitive difficulties
  • Disc Herniation can be immediately apparent if the herniation is causing compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots as they exit the spinal column.  If not, symptoms from disc herniation can develop over time, and may only become problematic with certain movements or activities.
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Why It’s Important To Seek Medical Care Right Away After a Car Accident

Diagnosing injuries as soon as possible is important for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Quicker diagnosis and healing
  • Documentation of injuries for insurance claims
  • Uncovering hidden injuries that can cause problems later on, like disc herniation or tendon tears
 

Even minor or low-speed accidents or “fender-benders” can result in injury. Be sure to see a physician for any new symptoms or if you notice anything unusual.

How Unnoticed Car Accident Injuries Can Be Diagnosed

Diagnosing injuries following a car accident can be difficult if they are not obvious like physical trauma. 

Your physician may use a variety of diagnostic methods to uncover unnoticed car accident injuries, including:

  • Physical examination to assess the overall physical condition, muscle tone and function, and joint range of motion
  • X-rays to detect bone fractures and dislocations 
  • Computed Tomography (CT) scans to visualize internal organs and soft tissue
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to visualize muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, and soft tissue
  • Electromyography (EMG) to determine muscle health and functioning of the peripheral nervous system
  • Neurological examination to assess coordination, reflexes, and cognitive function
  • Blood tests to check for internal bleeding
 
how long it takes to feel injury after car accident

For Immediate or Delayed Car Accident Injuries, Premier Care Chiropractic Provides Personal Treatment for Pain Relief To Get You Back on Your Feet

Premier Care Chiropractic specializes in treating auto accident injuries in Portland. 

While some people experience pain, tension, and muscle spasms immediately following an accident, others have no symptoms until days or even weeks following the accident.

The team at Premier Care Chiropractic is experienced in recognizing the signs of immediate and delayed car accident injuries. We’ll create a treatment plan that utilizes just the right tools and techniques to get you out of pain and back into life as quickly as possible. 

If you’ve been in a car accident, contact the professionals at Premier Care Chiropractic in Portland today to schedule an appointment.

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The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.