5 Health Issues You Should Always Have Yourself Checked For After An Accident

Written By Anita Ginsburg / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Taking care of your health might be something you put off until there’s a problem, and an accident could turn your world upside down. In a matter of seconds, a life-changing injury can take place, but you may not notice it right away.

The effects of an accident can be long-standing, sometimes not revealing their true extent for months after the initial incident. If you've been involved in a slip-and-fall, car crash, or workplace accident, see a doctor and have them check for these five common health issues.

Whiplash

Whiplash happens when the neck is rapidly flung forward and back. This can lead to back and neck pain, spinal problems, misalignment, and even disc herniation. Pressure on your vertebrae can result in symptoms stemming from nerve compression, such as pain, numbness, tingling, and burning sensations.

Seek a doctor if you experience headaches, back or neck pain, or any nerve-like symptoms. Early intervention is key to preventing permanent damage.

Brain Injuries

A brain injury may not always be as evident as you think. For example, strong headaches in the days after an accident may indicate a concussion or post-traumatic brain injury. You should always see a doctor for immediate assessment after any accident that results in injury to the neck or head.

Keep in mind that falls can also lead to concussions even if your head did not strike anything. It's all about the force of the fall, which could cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull.

Abdominal Trauma

If you experience chronic nausea or abdominal pain after an accident, you may have internal injuries that require immediate medical care. This often happens in car accidents because of the restraining force of the seatbelt.

While seat belts keep you safely in place during an accident, they can also cause torso injuries, especially on the unprotected abdomen. It’s important to get these internal injuries checked out as soon as possible.

Soft Tissue Injury

Your body's soft tissue includes muscles, tendons, fat, nerves, and veins, and all of these can be damaged in an accident. You may not notice pain right away, especially due to accident-induced adrenaline.

However, it's not uncommon for soft tissue injuries to gradually worsen with time. Even normal use can exacerbate the injury, so you may experience greater pain hours or days after the incident.

Back Injuries

The adult back has 24 vertebrae that can all cause different problems depending on the nerves they're connected to. Injuries to the bones, joints, or muscles in your back can also result in pain. If you notice any issue with your range of motion, have trouble sitting, or experience numbness, tingling, stiffness, or pain, then there is a possibility you have a back injury.

Personal injury doctors know how to assess a patient for trauma and delayed injuries, ones that may otherwise go unnoticed. Seeking one out if you've been in a car accident or workplace incident should be one of your first priorities.

In some cases, you may want to seek legal action against an employer, driver, or property owner to cover medical bills and emotional damages. If there is no one at fault, then the best thing you can do is prioritize rest and recovery. Work closely with your doctor to develop a rehabilitation plan so you can feel like your old self as soon as possible.

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Written By:

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, Colo. 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.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.