It’s normal to experience some soreness and pain after being involved in a car accident, but when does the pain become an indicator that something more may be wrong?
Learn about how long people typically remain sore or injured after being involved in a car accident and discover treatment options to help you find pain relief.
Car Accident Injuries & Soreness
It’s normal to be sore for a few hours to even a few days after a car accident. If you’re wondering how long you should be sore after a car accident, that usually indicates that you have lingering pain that is not consistent with typical injuries.
For more serious injuries, you may be sore for weeks to months afterward. However, it is not normal to experience the typical pain and soreness that accompanies a car accident for more than 6 weeks after being involved in a fender bender or smaller accident. I feel residual pain or discomfort after you have been involved in a car accident, it is usually an indication that you have a more serious injury.
Even if you don’t have any lasting injuries, some people can still feel pain and soreness for up to six weeks after being involved in a car accident due to bruising, soreness, and stiffness.
Some injuries can take longer to heal than others and may have lasting complications, which is why getting proper treatment and going through rehabilitation for injuries is so important.
Not Sure If It’s Serious?
Some signs that your injury could be serious, and you should seek treatment:
- Recurring dizziness, blurred vision
- Pain in the neck that radiates out and makes turning/moving neck painful
- Back pain and trouble twisting, turning and crouching
- Tingling/numbness in any area of the body that does not dissipate
Here are some of the most common injuries that we see in our patients that have been involved in car accidents. If you have continued pain or soreness in these areas, it is likely an indicator of serious injuries that require chiropractic care or physical therapy for rehabilitation.
Head injuries–Both drivers and passengers are susceptible to head injuries in the event of a car crash or collision. Head injuries can be as small as cuts and bruising, a concussion, or as serious as traumatic brain injury. You should always have head injuries assessed since they can be fatal and affect the neck and spinal cord.
Back Injuries–Back injuries are very common in car accidents, due to the rapid jerking motion of a vehicle coming to a stop or crashing into another car. From difficulty twisting and moving to pain and soreness, back injuries are a common result of car accidents.
Internal injuries–While in a car accident, your seatbelt will help protect you, but if worn incorrectly, it can also cause internal damage. The jerking motion can also result in bruising or even broken ribs-which is preferable to more serious injuries from not wearing a seat belt.
Neck Injuries & Whiplash–Neck injuries, such as whiplash are extremely common in car accidents. The abrupt jerking motion can cause injuries of the top spinal vertebrae in the neck and cause pain and soreness when moving or twisting the neck. Chiropractic care and adjustment can relieve whiplash pain.
Spinal Cord Injuries– As the car rapidly stops or changes direction, spinal discs and vertebrae are pushed out of alignment or twisted awkwardly. Some can even fracture or result in other spinal injuries. Bracing, x-rays, and careful movement should be taken when caring for suspected back injuries.
Overwhelmed by Insurance & Details?
The need for medical care after a car accident is crucial. If you are still in the process of dealing with the other party’s car insurance, or your own medical insurance, it can be difficult to pay for the help you need and can cause additional, unwanted stress.
At RxWellness Spine & Health we can work on a medical lien, meaning that we don’t get paid until you get paid, or can offer services via Medical Payments (Med Pay). This is an optional coverage, so speak to your insurance broker and ask if you had been paying for this additional coverage. Medical payments cover the necessary and reasonable medical costs if you have been injured in a car accident. It covers you and anyone in your car. It does not matter who was at fault.
If you are at-fault in a car accident and you are injured, you can go get medical care and file it under Med Pay. RxWellness is familiar with the medical insurance process and will file all the necessary paperwork for you so you can concentrate on healing.
Get Injury Treatment & Recover Naturally
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you will need to make an appointment for a brief, but thorough, examination that likely includes x-rays and other diagnostic tests. A medical consultation helps your chiropractor or physical therapist determine whether the pain and soreness that you experience a symptom of car accident injury or is the result of other injuries and complications.
While many doctors will prescribe pain medications or offer surgeries as fixes for lingering or chronic pain, there are other options that can provide natural pain relief without resorting to invasive surgeries or potentially addictive opioids.
From chiropractic adjustments and targeted physical therapies to regular exercises targeting the source of your pain, RxWellness Spine & Health offers a multitude of ways to get injury treatment which allows you to recover naturally at a reasonable pace.
Get Quality Rehabilitation After A Car Accident
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care involves manipulations of the joints in the spine to correct misalignments and is a proven treatment for a variety of car accident injuries such as: back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, and other spinal conditions. Our chiropractors personalize treatment plans for each patient so that they can experience effective natural healing.
Physical Therapy
The RxWellness Physical Therapy model differs from a regular Physical Therapy (PT) Clinic. We believe in treating the whole patient so that they can obtain optimal functionality. Our comprehensive holistic treatment program incorporates chiropractic care and physical therapy together to treat patient pain. Dr. Naples and his team guide patients through the process with ease. Our Physical Therapy program is centered around 3 Stages: Relief Care, Corrective Care, and Maintenance.
RxWellness believes in combining chiropractic care and physical therapy because the two treatments complement each other. By strengthening a patient’s muscles through physical therapy, chiropractic treatment and alignment becomes even more effective. Our approach is holistic and focuses on neuromuscular retraining to build strength and restore muscle.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy provides professional assistance and techniques to help you reduce anxiety and stress and it is often a part of our chiropractic care treatment in our clinics. We also use advanced technology such as massage roller beds as part of our massage therapy treatment. The comforting touch of an expert massage therapist is ideal for neck and back pain treatments as well as for patients in need of carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, or other musculoskeletal ailments.
Rehabilitation Exercises
In addition to chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage therapy, the traditional methods of dealing with and pain and soreness are suggested for those that have been injured in a car accident. Individuals with lingering muscle strain & soreness should utilize the RICE Method–Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. If you have pain, try to stay off of that area of rest from using it. Ice the affected area, wrap or bandage it and keep it elevated to prevent further injury or pain. Personalized rehabilitation exercises and functional movements can help you slowly regain function and use of the injured area of your body, without overuse or strain.
Make an Appointment
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, don’t wait to get an injury evaluation. Contact RxWellness Spine & Health for a to make an appointment for an injury consultation and recover fast.
When looking for a team to care for your health, seek out the best! Our chiropractic centers are the largest facilities in northern Virginia, with top-notch staff to care for you and your family. Our team members and clinicians are highly trained and provide exceptional customer care and service. In addition to top-rated doctors, we pride ourselves in having the best Patient Care Specialists and Massage Therapists on staff to care for your health, from initial car accident injury or pain consultation to complete recovery.