The Hidden Damage of Car Accidents: What You Need to Know
So, you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident.
Whiplash?
Acceleration/deceleration trauma, or WAD (whiplash associated disorders) are common in motor vehicle accidents. Most of the literature looks to brain injuries (TBI) and cervical injuries (injuries to the neck); but acceleration/deceleration injuries can cause damage to almost every part of the body.
This discussion demands we address some basics. Why are Injuries commonly missed? What kind of injuries should we be looking for in an accident victim? And how would we look for them?
Why the ER might miss your injuries
If you had an accident, you may have been seen at a hospital emergency room. The emergency care setting is very good at identifying and treating life-threatening disorders. The injuries that happen in a whiplash injury often fly under the radar. In most ER cases where there are no visible injuries, providers:
- Order little or no imaging; usually X-Ray or CT, not MRI
- Treat conservatively (like giving pain meds or rest advice)
- Send the patient home
I have cared for many accident victims over the years and there’s a fair percentage of people that have little to no findings in the emergency care setting that are later discovered to have suffered considerable injury; all of which is good reason to be evaluated by a chiropractor after such an injury.
The hidden injuries after an accident
Let’s keep it simple: your body is a system of bones, joints, muscles, nerves, and connective tissue, all working together. Even if nothing is “broken,” injuries can hide in:
- Muscles and tendons
- Ligaments and fascia
- Brain, spinal cord and nerves
- Spinal joints and discs
Pain may not show up until days or even weeks after the accident — but by then, the problem may be worse. Brain injury (TBI) findings are often absent immediately after the injury but manifest (and can increase) over time.
“One of our patients came to us nearly two weeks after a car accident. Although the ER had cleared them, they were still experiencing symptoms like headaches, neck stiffness, and trouble concentrating. During our evaluation, we found soft tissue and joint injuries that had been missed initially. Imaging revealed neck instability, which — if left untreated — could have led to serious complications. We ordered an MRI that confirmed multiple disc bulges and severe herniations. With the right care, they avoided long-term pain, medication, and even surgery. They were able to return to work and feel like themselves again.”
So how will we know you have an injury?
The gold standard for identifying physical disorders across all healthcare is “evidence-based medicine with reproducible findings”. In simpler terms, this typically means tests. We perform tests as necessary, of course. Imaging such as x-ray, CT or MRI can give us answers as regards certain injuries. But what do we do if our images do not give us answers? There are many injuries that are not going to show up on images. A provider with experience distinguishing between tendon injuries, muscle injuries, joint injuries and nerve entrapment injuries is your best resource in a situation such as a motor vehicle accident injury. That’s what we do every day. That’s why you should see a chiropractor.
The chiropractor is a trained portal of entry provider. If your injuries exceed the scope of chiropractic care, the chiropractor is trained to begin the referral process to manage your condition.
What happens after we identify your injury
Your injury is continuously evaluated throughout the healing process at Grovetown Chiropractic, not just on your first visit. Even with the most thorough consultation, exam, and testing, the most useful diagnostic information often comes during treatment. We carefully monitor how your body responds to care — and that response helps identify what’s really going on.
Don’t Wait — Get the Care You Deserve
If you’ve been in a car accident, don’t wait for the pain to catch up with you — and don’t assume you’re fine just because the ER cleared you. At Grovetown Chiropractic, we specialize in finding and treating injuries that often go unnoticed in traditional settings. Our experience with accident-related injuries means we know what to look for — and how to help you heal.
Click the button below to schedule your evaluation today and let us help you get back to feeling like yourself again. Know someone who’s been in a car accident? Share this post with them- it might help them catch an injury before it gets worse.
Written by: Donaid Seals D.C
Dr. Seals is a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic with over 25 years of experience caring for people. His thinking is the product of his education, practice experience and many years in the natural foods and fitness industry. He has become living proof that old muscleheads don’t die-or fade away; sometimes they grow up to bring real-world expertise to the clinical picture. Traditional background information is available here.