Car Accidents and Delayed Symptoms: What You Need to Know

In this article, I’m going to cover football, car accidents, and deer hunting.  This could be interesting!

Even if your recent fender bender didn’t seem too serious, there’s still a very real chance that you or your passengers may have been hurt.  That’s because even the most minor car accidents can cause hidden injuries and delayed symptoms.  And while damage to your car is likely obvious and easy to assess, evaluating damage to your body may be far more difficult.  In fact, it’s not unusual for a driver or passenger to walk away from a collision with potentially serious musculoskeletal injuries (such as a concussion or whiplash), without knowing it.  If an accident is very bad, the driver or passenger may be checked for fractures or dislocations, but what about everything else, from strains to sprains, to concussions or bone bruises?  Our body is very good at responding to a stressful situation by putting pain and other symptoms on the back burner.

Because of the stress response, right after an accident the body's defenses are on high alert.  Any pain may be masked by endorphins produced by the body during and shortly after this kind of traumatic event.  Endorphins help the body manage pain and stress and can create a temporary euphoria or "high" feeling.  When the threat of the accident is gone, endorphin production slowly disappears, allowing you to feel pain that may have remained hidden earlier.

Perhaps the most common delayed symptom is that of whiplash.  Whiplash consists of soft tissue damage in the neck from the sudden acceleration and deceleration of the head, creating hyperflexion and hyperextension of the neck.  This can not only cause damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of your neck, it can also occasionally fracture or dislocate vertebrae and cause any of the following symptoms to show up later:

·         Headaches

·         Reduced range of motion or difficulty moving

·         Slowed reflexes

·         Vertigo

·         Muscle spasms

·         Localized weakness or numbness

·         Stiffness in shoulders and arms

Every bit as serious as any broken bones or lacerations, a concussion can prove to be a grave threat to your health.  Quite simply, a concussion is the result of the brain colliding with the inside of the skull from a rapid acceleration or deceleration.  Not all concussions occur because of bumping the head. If the head is restrained in any way and the restraint suddenly stops or suddenly jerks into motion, a concussion may occur.  Symptoms of concussion include the following:

·         Headaches

·         Bad temper

·         Nausea

·         Spasms

·         Loss of balance

·         Blurred or double vision

·         Disorientation

·         Confusion

·         Amnesia

·         Ringing in the ears

·         Difficulty concentrating or reasoning

·         Anxiety or depression

·         Tiredness, sleeplessness, or other problems with your ability to sleep

Now, I admit that a lot of these symptoms can be caused by a variety of life’s circumstances.  But, I can speak from experience—concussions are different.  Having had a couple concussions in my football playing days, I can attest that a concussion is something different.  I remember feeling like I was ‘going through the motions’ but didn’t really know what I was doing.  In fact, in one football game my senior year (I was having a great game, having rushed for over 100 yards in the first half), I came to the sidelines about 10 plays after making a tackle and taking a knee to the helmet, and promptly told the coach, “I don’t know the plays.  I don’t know anything!”  Needless to say, my game was over.

That’s how concussions are.  They aren’t always immediate, and the symptoms can vary. 

The key point with any of these symptoms is to know whether or not you had them before the accident.  Someone who knows you or lives with you can help identify any changes in your behavior that may indicate a possible concussion.  If you didn't have a symptom that you’re now experiencing, see your doctor right away.

In addition to the health consequences of car accidents with delayed symptoms, there is also the insurance aspect to consider.  Because many accident-related injuries don't show up immediately, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for the medical expenses from any delayed symptoms if you settle with your insurance company right away.  Therefore, consider waiting a few days before signing any release of liability so that any delayed symptoms have an opportunity to reveal themselves.  Seeing a chiropractor for an evaluation as soon as possible after an accident is also a good idea, since he or she can help identify injuries that may not have been present immediately after the accident, but instead will show up a couple days to weeks later, and start treatment promptly.  In many cases, seeking appropriate medical care soon after an accident can improve your chances of a more complete and more rapid recovery.

And finally, have a safe hunt, everyone.  Keep an eye out for deer on the roads, and be safe in the woods.  I know Opening Weekend is one of my favorite times of the year, even though it’s likely the only thing I’ll shoot this weekend is an exploding target.  The following week, enjoy the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving.   Save the shopping for later.  Spend this holiday with those who matter most---family!