Each year, there is an average of 6 million car accidents in the U.S. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury in the U.S. Have you been in an accident recently and wonder about injuries? 

The body is complex and when you’re involved in a crash, pain doesn’t always show up immediately. Learn how to check for a hidden injury after a car accident.

Natural Painkillers Hide Symptoms

Your body releases natural pain relievers after an accident. After an accident, your body releases steady supplies of endorphins and adrenaline, which can hide the pain. These chemicals can hide the pain, and you may feel pain after they wear off.

Whiplash

One of the most common car accident injuries is whiplash. This happens when your head snaps back and forth after a collision. This sudden motion causes your neck to sprain and strain.

It can also overstretch and tear the tendons and neck muscles. It can take a few days for these symptoms to appear. If you feel any of these pains or aches, you could have whiplash.

• Severe neck pain
• Back pain
• Stiff neck
• Dizziness
• Numbness in arms
• Shoulder pain

It’s important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Some people recover after a few weeks, but others can suffer from whiplash symptoms for several months or even years.

Bruised or Torn Muscles, Tendons, and Ligaments

You will have so much adrenaline in your body after an accident. You may not even know you have hurt muscles or tissue. Soft tissue injuries can strike quickly and be quite painful. 

You could also get soft tissue injuries from seat belts, the steering wheel, airbags, and even the dashboard. You should always get checked out by a doctor to make sure you don’t have any other injuries that you can’t see.

Concussion

You can get a concussion if your brain contacts your skull with force. If you experience loss of balance, dizziness, or difficulty concentrating or remembering, you could have a brain injury. See a doctor immediately for an evaluation.

Post-Traumatic Stress

Not all car accident injuries are physical. You may experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Any traumatic event can cause these symptoms, and they can last awhile. 

Signs of post-traumatic stress disorder include:

• Nightmares
• Flashbacks
• Mood changes
• Appetite changes
• Anxiety around any reminders of the accident
• Disrupted sleep

It’s important to talk to your doctor about your mental state as well as your physical state, so you can heal your entire body.

Back Pain

Back pain can come out of nowhere after a car accident. Your muscles could tighten or you could have bruising that causes this discomfort.  If you have extreme pain shooting down your spine, legs, or arms, you could also have a nerve injury. 

Sciatica pain starts in your lower back and will travel down your leg. It could a shooting pain or just a steady ache. You should see a car accident doctor to alleviate back pain and determine the best plans to heal in the future.

Finding a Hidden Injury After a Car Accident 

It’s important to watch your body to see if there is a hidden injury after a car accident. It may show up a few days later, so give yourself plenty of time to rest. Listen to your body and talk to a doctor.

Looking for other ways to treat stress from the accident? Check out our site for some useful tips on relieving stress.