5 Reasons to Seek Medical Care After a Car Accident

Millions of people get into car accidents every year, but not everyone who gets into a car crash gets injured. 

You may not think to seek medical care after a car accident if you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t seem to have an injury — at least not one you can see or feel. But, there’s never a wrong time to seek medical care after a car accident because sometimes symptoms don’t show up right away. 

At Interventional Pain Associates in Austin, Texas, our pain management specialist, Dr. Sarosh Saleemi, sees the long-term effects of car accidents on a person’s health.

Dr. Saleemi shares the following reasons you need to seek medical care right away.

1. You have an obvious injury

Injuries are as varied as the auto accidents themselves. High-impact car crashes may cause obvious injuries that need immediate medical attention, like a head injury, broken bones, or severe laceration. If you have any type of serious injury following a car accident, you need medical care right away. 

2. You may have an injury 

Unfortunately, not all car accidents cause obvious injuries. If you’re in a minor fender bender, you may not see or feel any injury and may not think you need care. But even minor car crashes can cause soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, or whiplash. 

It’s not unusual for someone with a whiplash injury, for example, to start feeling stiff and achy a few hours after the crash. Getting medical care right away may prevent some of the delayed aches and pains. 

3. Skipping care may make things worse

If you have an injury and don’t get the right treatment, your condition may worsen. Because car accident injuries are so varied, no single treatment works for all of them. You may need more than a rest and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication. In some cases, too much “rest” can really set you back.

4. Early care means faster recovery

Getting medical care after an accident can help you recover faster. Whether you have knee pain or low back pain, we can determine the source of your discomfort and the best treatment for the injury. Delaying medical care means a delay in your recovery. 

5. Medical care now may prevent future problems 

Car accident injuries can lead to chronic health problems. But getting medical care soon after the accident helps you get the treatment necessary to prevent future problems. This is especially true if you already have a chronic health condition like fibromyalgia or chronic neck pain. 

Don’t skip your medical exam after a car accident, even if you think it was a minor crash. Car accidents are unexpected, causing the body to jerk in ways that may sprain, strain, or break something, even if you don’t feel pain initially.

We can help you get the right diagnosis and treatment plan in place. Call our office or click the “book online” button to make an appointment with our injury and pain management expert today.