Car accident injuries aren’t always obvious right away, which can trick you into thinking you are fine when you really have something going on that needs medical attention. If you have ever been in a car accident, then you likely remember the stress and shock of the traumatic situation that sent you into autopilot and flooded your body with adrenaline. The good news is that our bodies have these responses to help protect us in the immediate aftermath. However, adrenaline and other automatic responses can mask symptoms, and you might consider skipping a trip to the car accident doctor. No matter what type of car accident you were in, it’s a good idea to get checked out by a doctor right away. What you might think is general car accident soreness may be a sign of a more serious injury that needs attention.
It may take hours or even days for you to start feeling sore after a car accident, but that doesn’t mean your injuries aren’t serious. The sooner you can get to a car accident doctor after an accident, the sooner you will be able to start treatment for your injuries. Getting started on treatment sooner rather than later has been known to cut down on your recovery time after a car accident. This means that you may experience less car accident soreness if you get checked out by a car accident doctor right away. While you can expect to feel sore after a car accident, there are signs and symptoms you want to pay attention to that will help your doctor diagnose your injuries and provide the most appropriate treatment plan.
What To Do After a Car Accident
Immediately after a car accident, you want to make sure you are safe. This may mean moving your vehicle or yourself to the side of the road if you are able. If paramedics arrive at the scene, you should always accept their attention. Turning away paramedic assistance can actually cause an issue if you try to later settle with an insurance company. You want to demonstrate that you take your health and well-being very seriously after a car accident, and part of that includes allowing and seeking medical attention as soon as possible. If there weren’t any paramedics on the scene, you might consider getting checked out at the emergency room or urgent care. In these situations, you will be treated for immediate injuries and issues like cuts and bruises, but your follow-up care and treatment will need to be handled by a car accident doctor. The best thing you can do for your treatment and recovery process is to find a car accident doctor near you that you trust.
What to Expect After a Car Accident
The shock and adrenaline may prevent you from fully experiencing pain or symptoms for hours or even days after the car accident. However, you will likely start to feel sore after a car accident as swelling and inflammation set in. Car accident soreness is common with musculoskeletal car accident injuries that affect your bones, joints, muscles, and other soft tissues in the body. Even if you have delayed symptoms or reactions to the car accident, you still want to pay attention to when you start experiencing soreness and pain. A car accident doctor can also help determine the severity of potential injuries after you’ve been in a wreck. There are a number of reasons why you might experience accident soreness, including common car accident injuries like whiplash and back pain. The strain on muscles in your neck and back can cause pain and discomfort that may leave you feeling sore like you just completed a particularly strenuous workout. Some injuries can even leave you sore after a car accident in a way that makes it uncomfortable to move certain ways.
Recovery Time After a Car Accident
The recovery time after a car accident will depend on your specific injury and how your body responds to treatment. Your car accident doctor can talk to you about how long you will expect soreness afterward and walk you through ways to manage and reduce your pain while you heal. Visit our team of car accident doctors at AICA Orthopedics in Marietta to learn more about how we can help you after a car accident!