Why Am I Having Delayed Pain After My Car Accident?

After a car accident, it’s common for people who don’t think they’ve experienced an injury to walk away, not choosing to go to a medical provider for a check. Unfortunately, this sometimes ends up with pain down the road. 

If you’re experiencing delayed pain as the result of a car accident injury, it’s important to see a provider right away in order to ensure you’re able to receive whatever help and benefits you may need for your recovery going forward. 

At Injury and Health Urgent Care, we focus on making sure our patients receive comprehensive care after a car accident. Melissa Kempf, MD, and Shannon Wait, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, understand delayed pain can be scary after this kind of event, so we want to make sure you have as much support as possible when you walk through our doors.  

Car accidents are serious business

It’s true. Even a small collision or minor fender bender can produce serious pain and problems immediately or down the road. This is why, any time you’re in an accident, you should get evaluated as soon as possible afterward, if for no other reason than to record that the accident occurred. According to a recent study, 90% of the people who do are sent home the same day.

Sadly, many people choose not to do this, either because they’re afraid of the cost, they don’t actually believe they could be hurt, or for some other reason. But avoiding going to the doctor and getting properly checked out after an accident can lead to delayed pain down the road. 

Why delayed pain occurs after an accident

But why didn’t you experience pain right after the accident happened? For one, going through a car accident causes a spike of adrenaline through your system. Adrenaline can mask your pain, injury, and other issues and may last for thirty minutes or longer. As a result, you might not feel pain immediately, and by the time you do, you might think it’s unrelated. 

You may also experience a minor level of pain, which your brain could find easy to rationalize. You may even find yourself thinking, “Well, I’m not hurt badly. I don’t need to go to the doctor.” But an injury like this can worsen with time after the accident. 

In addition, certain injuries — like those to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even some organs — can take time to produce pain. In some cases, swelling occurs several hours after a car accident, and only then will you begin to feel discomfort. 

Finally, pain can sometimes be a result of the mental toll an accident takes. PTSD can later manifest as chronic pain, which can become a serious problem that’s very hard to treat. 

What to do about delayed pain after an accident 

So, you’re experiencing pain now, but you’re unsure of what to do. First and foremost, you should go see a medical provider immediately. At an office like ours, we can help you piece together when, where, and how the pain started as well as any likely diagnoses that might’ve been overlooked after your accident. 

We can also help you find out if you have any options for short- and long-term treatment as well as assist you in filing claims or filling out insurance forms. At our clinic, we help patients in a number of ways so they can get the best, most well-rounded care possible. 

Do you need help after an accident for delayed pain?

Of course, the best thing you can do after an accident is get evaluated by a medical professional immediately. But even if you waited and are now experiencing new or worsened pain, it’s still important to get help. 

We’re available at our San Antonio, Texas, office to treat your post-accident injuries. Just call 210-879-3521, or visit us online to book an appointment.