A car accident in North Carolina can wreak havoc on a lot of areas of your life. Property damage, physical injuries and emotional shock can last for several weeks or even months.
One of the tricky parts of physical injuries is that you may not recognize you have sustained an injury right away. Whiplash, for example, could take a few days to notice but could last for several weeks. If left untreated, you are at a much higher risk of ongoing problems and chronic pain.
Whiplash symptoms
Whiplash happens when your head and neck snap back and forth at a rapid speed. Even a minor car accident can have a significant enough impact for you to experience whiplash. According to The Mayo Clinic, symptoms can include dizziness, headaches, fatigue and stiffness. However, more serious symptoms can also occur including depression and blurred vision.
If your accident happened at a high rate of speed or from behind, you are at a much higher risk of whiplash. If you ignore your symptoms, your condition could worsen and leave you battling debilitating head, neck and arm pain that could impair your ability to move.
Whiplash treatment
One of the most common treatments for whiplash is the use of a foam collar to help stabilize your neck while it heals. Chiropractic adjustments or specialized massage treatments can also alleviate pain and help restore your range of motion. Other solutions include acupuncture and electronic nerve stimulation.
Because it can be difficult to determine the extent of any injuries on your own, a medical evaluation at the scene of an accident is always a good idea. However, if you do not accept the help of responding medical personnel, make sure you get medical attention as soon as you can at the earliest sign of discomfort following your accident.
