Motor vehicle accidents are traumatizing experiences in and of themselves. But when they result in physical injury, it can create a greater problem than just a damaged fender or a rate hike in your insurance premium.
The problem is, most individuals involved in a car accident aren’t aware that they’re injured immediately following a wreck. They may even feel fine … but they’re likely not, even if they were wearing a seatbelt.
That false sense of relative wellbeing is often because the incident has generated adrenaline and endorphins into their bodies, two chemicals that block pain and help humans temporarily deal with stressful situations.
However, once the chemical reaction subsides, delayed injury symptoms may appear. These may include clouded thinking and an inability to focus; headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, a lack of energy, and abnormal sleeping patterns. If so, you may well have suffered a concussion in the accident and require immediate medical attention.
Other Injuries to Watch For
A more noticeable source of pain following a car accident is a soft tissue injury involving damaged muscles, tendons, or ligaments. A soft tissue injury will usually cause pain, swelling, and a lack of range of mobility. But again, the symptoms may not appear immediately regardless of the force and severity of the accident. In fact, it could take days or weeks for your symptoms to appear. These include:
· Neck pain
· Shoulder pain
· Back pain
· Numbness
· Bruising and/or discoloration
The most well-known soft tissue injury related to a car crash is undoubtedly whiplash. It’s an injury to the neck muscles when an impact causes your head to suddenly jerk forward and then quickly snap back. Whiplash is typically not a life-threatening injury, but unless properly treated it can lead to a prolonged period of pain and partial disability.
For these reasons, you can not afford to shrug off the immediate effects of an accident, and you should see a doctor as soon as possible. This is also a good idea, if not simply for your health, but to avoid a potential insurance debacle. If either driver was at fault, and one person decides that they are fine at the scene of the accident and refuses to seek medical help, it may become complicated later on when painful symptoms start coming up.
Why You Need to See A Doctor
Your doctor can diagnose any injuries you sustained in a motor vehicle accident and treat your pain before it becomes more serious. If there are no symptoms or injuries, your doctor can advise you on how to manage any subsequent pain you might experience.
You’ll definitely need to visit your doctor soon after an accident if you plan on filing an injury claim with an insurance company. If you don’t supply medical documentation of your injury or wait too long to consult a physician, your claim may be denied.
Most important, however, is your swift recovery. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you don’t want to live in constant discomfort that prevents you from doing the things you love to do.
That’s why finding the right interventional pain management clinic in Oklahoma is important. To learn more about your pain relief options, call The Brooks Clinic at (405) 400-0877 or schedule an appointment online.
