It’s estimated that 63% of chronic lower back pain cases can be traced to a nonfatal auto accident. In many of these cases, the connection between the injury and the auto accident isn’t diagnosed promptly because the pain doesn’t always show up right away. Getting checked out after an auto accident is critical to receiving care for your back when you need it most.
Dr. Ajay Kumar and our team at New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center provides diagnostic and medical care for people who have been in auto accidents. He has years of experience treating patients with back pain and wants you to understand why it’s important to seek prompt medical attention after an accident.
If you’ve been in a vehicle crash, you may feel no pain right away, or it might be limited pain. This may be due to shock and adrenaline or because swelling is slow and doesn’t cause pressure on nerves that send pain signals until later.
Depending on speed, direction, where you were seated in the car, and other factors, you might walk away with what you think is just minor whiplash, bruises, or a tweaked back. This may lead you to believe that you’re fine and that you don’t need a medical evaluation. A few days later, when you really start to hurt, you’ll have missed an important window for diagnostics and treatment.
Common injuries from auto accidents include:
An injury from a minor car accident can indeed heal quickly and leave no lasting ramifications. However, hidden injuries can be discovered days, weeks, or months later, and it may be difficult to connect them to the accident if you decline care at the time.
Even if you don’t think you need to be checked out medically immediately following a car crash, Dr. Kumar recommends that you take this important step. Masked injuries can start causing pain after a few days, and you might not be able to prove that your pain is related to your accident after a certain amount of time has passed.
That can put you in a real bind later when you do start feeling stiff and sore and the damage has been amplified by an absence of medical care. You could end up in a lot of pain for a long time, with expensive medical bills, because a doctor didn’t confirm that the car accident was the origin of your initial injury.
At New Jersey Advanced Pain Management Center, Dr. Kumar and his team want to see you as soon as possible after your auto accident. We’ll run a battery of exams and tests, checking for any obvious wounds, inflammation, spinal damage, or elevated blood labs that could indicate internal injuries.
Dr. Kumar also asks detailed questions about any symptoms you may have and requests specifics about the crash. He carefully reviews your medical history and conducts a complete physical exam before deciding what imaging you may need, such as an X-ray, CAT scan, or MRI.
After your evaluation, we create a personalized treatment plan that will fully support you through your recovery and minimize the chance of chronic pain. Dr. Kumar may prescribe pain medication, recommend physical therapy, or advise you to modify your lifestyle during your recovery period. Expect regular follow-up visits until you’re fully recovered.
Delaying medical evaluation after an auto accident can result in pain in the days or even years following the incident. When you’ve been involved in a crash, please schedule an evaluation appointment by contacting our team in Hackettstown, New Jersey, or Matamoras, Pennsylvania.
