When you’ve been in a car accident, it’s likely that you will be on high alert for any injuries you may have sustained, maybe even for weeks after the event. Headaches or any pain, or symptoms may have you asking if you have whiplash, or a concussion, or a number of other common ailments. Even without these symptoms, you are likely to visit a Snellville chiropractor to ensure nothing has been damaged that you don’t know about yet. But in addition to the expected aches and pains, there may be other symptoms you don’t realize stem from your collision. Keep reading to understand some of the lesser-known effects of car accidents so that you can spot them.
Abdominal Pain
If you were wearing a seatbelt during your crash, you likely avoided a number of severe injuries. However, the pressure the seatbelt places on your abdomen when it restrains you can lead to some issues itself, commonly internal bruising or internal bleeding. It is not unusual to feel tenderness or pain in this area, but if it persists and is coupled with nausea or lightheadedness, immediate medical attention is called for.
Changes in Hearing
Tinnitus, or a slight ringing in the ears, is not uncommon to deal with after a car accident. Often the loud noise caused by the impact, as well as shock or a concussion, can lead to this ringing or a mild loss of hearing. In most cases, tinnitus will ease over time, but it is always important to get a professional opinion and prevent any long term damage from occurring.
Eating and Sleeping Pattern Changes
For many people, the stress of an accident is enough to cause a loss of appetite or insomnia. Dealing with the paperwork mechanics, and any other soreness can be enough to have an effect on your daily behavior in this way.
However, in some cases, this can indicate a larger problem. A severely decreased appetite or digestive issues, for example, may indicate abdominal or spinal injuries and should be reported. Sleep loss can also be due to pain caused by an injury that needs treatment before worsening.
Both physical and mental effects on health are important to monitor and understand so that the proper help can be sought out to get back to your normal patterns.
Mood and Behavior Changes
These types of shifts may not be apparent for days after an accident, and others may notice it before you do. Changes to mood or temperament can indicate a concussion or other brain injury, or post-traumatic stress and emotional distress caused by the accident. Even if head injuries can be ruled out, behavioral changes can lead to other issues and should be treated swiftly.
Numbness or Tingling
The “pins and needles” feeling that you associate with a limb falling asleep, or total numbness, can both indicate damage to a nerve or tissue near that area. Pinched nerves are common and very painful, requiring medical attention to improve. Nerves that are damaged will worsen over time and can lead to long-term health issues when not addressed.
Tingling and numbness may also occur when muscle, tendon, or ligament damage has occurred, such as when you are suffering from whiplash.
Bruising or Discoloration
In most cases, bruises will take hours or days to appear on the skin, as the blood from a broken vessel comes to the surface. Bruises can happen anywhere on your skin, as well as to organs and bones inside of your body. Typically bruises are not a major concern and heal on their own, but if they persist over time there may be a larger issue. Internal bruising can also cause damage if not properly addressed.
Swelling and Stiffness
Both swelling and stiffness can occur for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common car accident injuries is a sprained muscle. The impact of the crash or a body part becoming contorted may lead to a sprain, and as it tries to heal the body may swell in that area. The swelling will also contribute to stiffness and a reduced range of motion in that area. Sprains can typically be treated with rest and ice, but in more serious cases may require medical attention.
If you experience any of these symptoms, or have been in a car accident and want to be thoroughly examined by professionals, AICA Snellville offers the best possible solutions. By offering chiropractic care, physical therapy, and other non-surgical techniques, we are able to create personalized plans to help you recover quickly.