If you’ve been in a low-speed, low-impact auto accident, you may think that you don’t need medical attention. However, even minor accidents can cause severe injuries that do not present until days or weeks later. No matter what type of accident you have been in, it is essential that you seek out care as appropriate to ensure that your injuries don’t cause serious issues in the future. Every single day we see patients that regret not seeking out our services sooner after their accidents.
Some of the most common health risks and injuries we see after low-impact auto accidents include:
Whiplash
Whiplash is caused by a sudden jerking of the head back and forth and is common after rear-end type accidents, which are often low-impact. Whiplash can lie hidden for days or longer before patients begin experiencing symptoms.
Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve is a very painful injury that occurs when a nerve is compressed. Pinched nerves are common after auto accidents when bones and muscles get jerked out of alignment, affecting the nerves nearby. It can take several days or more for the compressed nerve to begin feeling painful and early intervention is the best way to mitigate symptoms.
Strains and Sprains
Depending on where your vehicle is hit during the accident, you can potentially sprain or strain muscles, tendons, or ligaments in any part of the body. Depending on the severity, strains and sprains can take up to a week to manifest.
Muscle Tears
Believe it or not, even low-impact auto accidents can cause severe muscle tears, especially in muscles with previous injuries. Due to the body’s parasympathetic nervous system response after an accident, even severe muscle tears can go unnoticed until the body’s chemistry levels back out.
Spinal Manipulation is the Key to Recovery
With all of the injuries listed above, spinal manipulation and alignment are essential to successful recovery. By ensuring that your spine and nerves are healthy and functioning well, you can reduce pain, promote healing, reduce healing time, and live your best life after an accident.
Auto Accident Care in Tampa Bay
If you live in Tampa Bay and are in an auto accident, contact the auto accident injury specialists at Florida Injury & Wellness Center in Wesley Chapel at (813) 592-5840 or book an appointment online as soon as possible. We can help you use your PIP insurance to have your after-accident assessment and care covered.
