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6 Common Delayed Car Crash Injuries

Injuries don’t always show themselves immediately after the impact of a car accident. Sometimes it can take full days for the signs to appear, so you should prepare yourself for these unexpected but common occurrences. The friendly staff at Impact Medical Cutler Bay want to keep you informed on delayed injuries that can arise after a car crash as well as how to identify and treat them.

Soft Tissue Injuries

The most common car accident injuries involve soft tissue because it’s easy for tendons and muscles to stretch and tear after withstanding heavy impact. Oftentimes symptoms don’t become troublesome until the day after when soreness and tension really take a toll on the body. Signs of soft tissue injuries usually consist of tenderness and swelling along with muscle spasms and a more restricted range of motion. Physical therapy is essential in relaxing the damaged tissue in a way that restores the body to its original state through light stretches and exercises. In just a few weeks you can regain any lost muscle and improve your mobility.

Whiplash

When body parts are jerked in opposite directions at a high enough speed, it causes a phenomenon known as whiplash. Even an accident occurring at a mere 15 miles per hour can provide enough force to bring about a case of whiplash, and the damage is especially apparent when located in the neck and spine regions. Any damage to the spine will in turn affect the nerves because the spinal cord houses those nerves all the way to the skull. Whiplash can be identified by neck pain and stiffness along with a smaller range of motion. Chiropractic care is beneficial in guiding the spine back to its natural position to relieve these symptoms.

Concussions

Believe it or not, concussions don’t always happen right away. A concussion is brought about by the brain making hard and/or repeated contact with the walls of the skull thus affecting your motor skills. The signs can show instantaneously, but don’t count yourself out if this isn’t the case since a concussion can take as long as ten days to appear. This type of injury is not to be taken likely as it can be permanent or even fatal. Those suffering from a concussion may experience many symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Mental fogginess
• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Lack of focus
• Concentration
• Loss of balance
• Lack of coordination
• Mood swings
• Loss of consciousness

Slipped and Herniated Discs

Slipped and herniated discs are very similar as they both involve the fluid located in your spinal discs. When the spinal fluid presses up against the outer ring of the spinal disc, it can cause interference with the spinal canal which is known as a slipped disc. When that fluid is leaked into the spinal canal through a tear in that outer ring, the situation evolves into a hernia. Both cases can be damaging to your nerves and cause you to feel weakness, numbness, and pain. Physical therapy sessions can help ease the discs back into place.

Spinal Injuries

As you may be able to tell by the theme of this article so far, the spine is very susceptible to injuries in the event of a car crash. Even if the injury is not specifically classified as whiplash or a hernia, there are other symptoms that can occur when the spine is directly targeted during a heavy impact. This includes stiffness, numbness, tingling, and general back pain. Another common symptom is the loss of mobility in the spine. As is the case with the injuries listed above, physical therapy and chiropractic care are both proven methods in returning the body back to its natural state to expedite the healing process.

Emotional Trauma

Even if your body is back to pristine shape, it’s highly possible to be weighed down by other traumas. Depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can take a toll on those who become haunted by the memories of the tragic event. These psychological symptoms can last anywhere from a few weeks to full decades depending on the losses that were made. If this is the case, it’s important to refrain from being alone. Seek the support of friends, family, or a psychologist.

Where Can I Treat My Injuries?

If you are the victim of a car crash and seek relief from any of the injuries listed in this article, call Impact Medical Cutler Bay today at 305-363-7446 to schedule an appointment to be treated for your personal pain or discomfort. Our staff is trained specifically in car crash injuries and will give you personalized care to get you back in working order ASAP!

Bone Fracture Healing After an Accident – FAQ

Bone fractures are a very likely occurrence when enduring a car accident, but what are you supposed to do when it happens? Your friends at Impact Medical Miami want you to know how you can treat bone fractures as well as what to expect during and after the healing process.

How do bone fractures happen?

When a vehicle takes a major blow, danger can quite literally come from all sides. Various parts of the car can bend, break, and end up pressing your body in a way that can cause your bones to break or splinter. The force of your own body being jerked around in various directions can also be enough for your bones to bend in unnatural ways and snap.

What are the signs of having a bone fracture?

Aside from the obvious visual cues such as a bone sticking out of your body, there are other signs that you may be suffering from a bone fracture. These symptoms include:

• Extreme pain to applying weight or pressure on the affected area
• Swelling, redness, and tenderness
• Discolored or bruised skin
• Deformities

How long does it take for bone fractures to heal?

On average, bone fractures can take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks to heal completely. Taking regular physical therapy sessions can help expedite the process and keep your strength from fully depleting.

What are the healing stages of a bone fracture?

The three known phases of the healing process are the inflammatory, reparative, and remodeling stages. In the inflammatory stage, blood clots form around the area of the bone fracture and the body releases healing chemicals in response. Then, the reparative phase begins by creating a thick callus surrounding the ends of the bone. It can take a few weeks for the soft callus to harden. Lastly, the remodeling phase is when the healed fractures and the newly formed callus adjust to your daily movements and shape themselves accordingly.

How do your bones heal from a fracture?

Despite how hopeless a bone fracture injury may seem, the human body is capable of miraculous things. Fractures are able to heal from the bone parts being placed in their original positions for a prolonged period of time without shifting out of place. This is why it’s important to not push yourself during the healing process for fear of moving the bones out of alignment and extending the time needed to complete the process. 

Are there any home remedies to speeding up the healing process of a bone fracture?

While it’s absolutely necessary to seek medical attention to heal your injuries, there are some things that you can do at home to help speed up the process, particularly in your diet. Calcium and vitamin D do more than help your bones grow, they can also help your bones heal. Fitting green vegetables, fish, eggs, and dairy into your meals will give your body the nutrients it needs to persevere.

Can you still experience symptoms after fully healing from a bone fracture?

Even after your bones are fully healed, your body may feel weak from the weeks of bed rest. All the movements that you previously took for granted such as walking, lifting, and turning could now take a toll on your body and physical strength.

What is the best way to regain your strength after enduring a bone fracture?

Regaining the muscle that was lost is possible through physical therapy where you’ll be gently guided through stretches and light exercises. After pushing through regular sessions, you’ll be back to your normal self in no time!

If you have endured a bone fracture and are looking to take your recovery to the next step, call Impact Medical Miami at 786-789-3171 to schedule your physical therapy appointment today!

The Dangers of Untreated Whiplash After an Accident – FAQ

Though whiplash is a common accident injury, many patients decide to live through the pain because they think that their neck injury is mild or believe that their symptoms are not severe enough to warrant a visit to a doctor. 

But the problem with not getting treated for whiplash following an accident comes down to this—the trauma caused by even mild whiplash can cause long-lasting pain, headaches, and other symptoms. 

Our therapy team at Impact Med Wesley Chapel discusses what you need to know about untreated whiplash. Bottom line: If you are in an accident and have neck pain, come visit our clinic! 

What is Whiplash? 

Whiplash occurs when your neck is forced into a rapid back and forth motion suddenly during a crash, most often a crash with rear-end impact. 

Because the muscles and soft tissues in your neck are damaged when this happens, you may develop neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. In severe cases of whiplash, your vertebrae may be damaged, and you might experience memory loss. 

Symptoms of whiplash can appear immediately, or they may take time to develop. Even if you feel fine following an accident, it is always wise to visit a doctor for a check-up. 

Whiplash Associated Conditions 

It is estimated that 30-50% of people who experience whiplash will develop persistent whiplash-associated conditions. This means that you may have ongoing symptoms if you don’t get your whiplash treated such as:

• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Ringing in your ears
• TMJ pain
• Hypersensitivity to heat or cold
• Increased sensitivity to pain
• Memory problems 
• Poor concentration
• Tingling or prickly sensations in your hands and arms 

Severe neck pain is the most common problem that may develop, followed by ongoing headaches. Depression is also common when neck and head pain persists beyond three months. 

You can lower your risk of developing the above whiplash-associated conditions with prompt treatment following your accident. If you suffer from chronic neck pain due to untreated whiplash, our chiropractic and physical therapy teams at Impact Med Wesley Chapel can create a customized treatment plan to relieve your symptoms. 

Keep Reading> 6 Reasons You Should See a Chiropractor After a Crash 

Concussion

When you experience whiplash during an accident, your brain bounces against the side of your skull, causing damage to brain cells. Thus, a concussion can develop. 

You might write off the headache you feel following an accident as stress or mild whiplash that you can treat on your own, a headache is also a symptom of a concussion, which must be treated by a doctor. 

When you seek medical care following an accident, your doctor will check you for signs of whiplash and a concussion. 

If you do not seek treatment, your concussion may worsen causing problems that can last for months including dizziness, headaches, and trouble concentrating. 

Related Reading> Physical Therapy for Post-Accident Vertigo 

Limited Neck Movement 

When the soft tissues that support your neck are damaged and you hold off on seeking treatment, inflammation and scarring can develop which in turn can severely limit your neck’s range of motion. 

If left untreated, this can become a chronic pain issue and you might lose muscle strength in your neck. 

Balance and Dizziness 

Your neck plays a critical role in your overall balance, as nerve signals from your neck help maintain equilibrium throughout your body. The trauma of a whiplash injury can compress these nerves in your neck, causing dizziness and a loss of balance. 

This loss of balance and dizziness is called cervicogenic dizziness and occurs in up to 80-90% of whiplash cases. Without treatment for whiplash, you won’t know that the nerves in your neck sustained serious trauma. 

Treating Whiplash 

Regardless of how you may feel following an accident, seek medical care as soon as possible. A chiropractor or physical therapist can help you recover if you have suffered whiplash. 

When you visit Impact Med Wesley Chapel, we will perform an in-depth examination to determine the extent of your injuries, if any. Once complete, if you have whiplash or other injuries, we will create a treatment plan tailored to your recovery needs. 

Every case of whiplash is different, and each patient will receive customized care to ensure that they begin the road to recover and prevent lasting pain or whiplash-associated conditions. 

Been in a Car Accident? Visit Impact Med Wesley Chapel 

If you were involved in a car accident, there is a good chance that you could have whiplash. Don’t put off treatment! Let our experienced chiropractic and physical therapy team at Impact Med Wesley Chapel treat your whiplash injury before it has the chance to cause chronic long-lasting pain. 

Whiplash pain? Get relief and recover with Impact Med Wesley Chapel—813-953-1002!

Bone Spurs After an Accident? Read This

Getting into a car accident can be traumatizing for both you and your body. A number of things can happen such as broken bones, concussions, bruises, cuts, and so on. Today, the friendly staff at Impact Medical Bradenton want to inform you about bone spurs that can form after an accident and what you can do about them.

How Did I Get Bone Spurs?

Bone spurs, professionally known as osteophytes, form when excess pressure is placed on the tissue surrounding your joints. When this happens, your body reacts by growing extra bone to the area being exposed to damage. Bone spurs typically form in the space around the joints connecting your limbs and between the discs in your spinal cord. These are somewhat common during car accidents when the body experiences sudden, intense impact.

Possible Symptoms

During an auto accident, the areas of the body most commonly affected are the neck, back, and limbs. All these places are susceptible to bone spur growth and so it’s important to look out for the symptoms in case you need treatment. Since bone spurs take time to form, the signs may not show right away.

• Lack of mobility. When bone spurs grow, they take up the open space that allows you to move your joints which in turn limits the range of your movements.
• Intense pain. Some people may not experience pain, but others may be unfortunate enough to have bone spurs that scrape against other bones which can cause severe pain and discomfort.
• Cramps or muscle spasms. Any compression or damage of the nerves can cause cramps or muscle spasms.
• Numbness. Bone spurs can form in a way that may pinch your spinal cord, thus causing a numbing sensation in your limbs.
• Lack of coordination. Since your nerves are located in the spine, anything that interferes with your spinal cord can affect your brain which controls your motor functions.

Treatment Options

If you are diagnosed with bone spurs, or suspect that you may have them, there are some steps you can take to relieve the pressure. Some immediate at-home remedies involve the use of ice packs, over-the-counter ibuprofen, and good ol’ rest. All of these can work in tandem to reduce swelling, manage pain, and relieve pressure in the affected area. However, these are only immediate solutions to a larger problem.

After doing what you can at home, we still highly suggest that you undergo physical therapy. Opting in for physical therapy will help you regain your range of motion while minimizing overall pain. Some physical therapy techniques are designed specifically to restore functionality of your joints, tendons, and muscles, all of which are prone to damage in an auto accident.

Where Can I Go?

At Impact Medical Bradenton, we have licensed professionals trained specifically in auto accident injuries including bone spur treatment plans. If you are enduring pain and discomfort from the development of bone spurs in your body, give us a call today at 941-269-2183 to set an appointment and get back to being your normal self.