It’s typical to get treatment after a car accident for sprains, broken bones, and other acute injuries. But you may notice aches or a loss of range of motion weeks or months later. These can be related to the accident and may require personal injury treatment or care. Here are some “hidden” injuries to look for after the initial accident has passed.

Injuries That May Appear After a Car Accident

1. Soft Tissue Injuries

Injury to muscles, tendons, or ligaments—the soft tissues—can arise weeks or months after an accident. Whiplash, or a sore neck, is one of the most common. While severe whiplash is usually detectable immediately after the incident, moderate injuries take time to appear and may be blamed on more recent activities. If you have persistent pain in the neck, knees, shoulders, or ankles, or a loss of motion in these areas, it may be a delayed result of the accident. Other symptoms may include muscle spasms, numbness, headache, or dizziness. Personal injury treatment, including chiropractic care, massage, or acupuncture help the body heal.

2. Concussion

A concussion occurs when the brain makes contact with the interior of the skull, usually as a result of the head striking an object or a sudden change of motion. The symptoms of a concussion may not be present right away. Irritability, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, confusion, and anxiety may occur, as well as vomiting, double vision, headaches, and trouble balancing. Concussions can be serious and should be treated as soon as you recognize symptoms. Therapies such as chiropractic care can help the body recover and regain proper spinal alignment.

3. Psychological Issues

You may feel “fine” after a car accident, but emotional or psychological issues can take time to arise. Anxiety, depression, nightmares, or insomnia could signal that you’re feeling stress from the accident that requires personal injury treatment. Gentle complementary modalities, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage can assist the body to release stored tension and emotional stress while benefitting the physical body.

A personal injury treatment plan after a car accident should include both medical care and ongoing complementary treatment. For gentle, safe chiropractic accident and injury care in the Piedmont-Triad area, call South Main Chiropractic Clinic at (336) 885-5200 in High Point, NC. Patients receive a customized treatment plan diagnosed by the expert team. The clinic treats sports and auto injuries, arthritis, whiplash, head, neck, back, and knee pain, and can help patients achieve results even if other medical avenues have failed. Discover more about the practice and how they can help you recover from an auto injury on their website.