Unfortunately, car accidents happen almost every day. Some accidents leave people with serious injuries while others leave them unscathed. However, just because a person didn’t sustain any injuries during the initial crash doesn’t mean they are well.
Continue reading to learn four symptoms to look out for after a car accident.
Headaches
One of the most common symptoms that can occur after an accident are headaches. Due to the overwhelming amount of adrenaline, you most likely won’t feel it right away. However, you may feel it the next or maybe a few weeks after. Headaches can be caused by a number of things after a car accident. It may be caused by a concussion, tension from the event or whiplash.
Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury that causes the tendons and muscles in the neck to stretch out. In many cases of a car accident, joints, nerves, discs, and ligaments are injured in some way. Similar to the headaches, the pain may not appear right away. People can feel totally normal until they move their arms and legs. If you experience these symptoms, you probably have whiplash:
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Stiff muscles
- Constant pain in the neck and shoulders
- Dizzy spells
- A reduced range of motion
Physical therapy can help alleviate these symptoms and get you back on your feet.
Stress and Tension
It is not easy to deal with the events of a car accident. In addition to the various symptoms you may be experiencing, you also have to file claims to your insurance company, schedule a car repair and figure out if there are any other expenses that need to be covered.
All of this responsibility can really cause unnecessary stress and tension, and the medical problems can make it worse. Due to this, it’s not unheard of for someone to develop a tension headache, which we mentioned before is a very common car accident symptom.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that is commonly associated with soldiers. However, they aren’t the only ones who can suffer from it. Anyone who is a part of traumatic event, such as a car accident, can experience the symptoms. It’s also worth mentioning that they don’t have to be physically injured to suffer from this. If you are suffering from PTSD, you should seek out therapy. These are some symptoms of PTSD:
- Nightmares about the event
- Overwhelming anxiety
- Changes in your mood
- Depression
- Inability to focus on things
Being involved in a car accident is a frightening event. If you were in a car accident, make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible. Doing so can help treat any underlying problems before they even arise.
Author information: Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University and now writes articles about health, business, family, and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.
