On average, there are over 16,000 accidents per day on US roads. Sometimes the damage is just to your vehicle, but often times it causes serious injury to the passengers inside. If you’re like many people, you may think you don’t need an immediate evaluation from a medical professional. However, you may sustain “silent injuries” lurking within that can cause severe consequences or death if not treated. You should always get checked out by a medical professional immediately after an auto collision, even after a minor accident.
Here are some of the top silent injuries that often cause no immediate symptoms after a car accident:
Internal bleeding: If you’ve experienced blunt trauma from your car accident, you may need to be wary of internal bleeding. While not obvious from the outside, it can be devastating to your internal organs, causing you to lose consciousness or worse – death. If you experience dizziness, swelling, or discoloration under the skin, seek immediate medical attention, and let us know as much detail about your symptoms as possible.
Bone fractures: Broken bones can go undetected and cause severe internal damage if not allowed to heal properly. Bone fractures require rest, splinting or casting, and in certain cases, physical therapy may be needed. In order to determine if you’ve suffered a fracture or partial fracture, you must seek guidance from your physician to pursue X-ray images of the damaged area. If a fracture is present, one of our physicians will guide you through appropriate treatment.
Nerve damage: This type of internal damage can take years to heal and often requires surgical intervention and/or physical therapy. You may have sustained nerve damage if you feel numbness or prickling in the area, or if you experience uncontrolled muscle movements.
Hyperkalemia: In situations in which a part of your body may have been crushed by your car or another object, you may experience hyperkalemia. This condition occurs when the muscles in your limb rupture and leak chemical components that make up your muscles into your bloodstream. While the chemicals are organic, sudden flooding of these chemicals can cause your heart to strain or give out completely.
If you’ve been in a car accident, seek immediate help with Accident Doctor San Antonio. Our injury doctors are highly experienced with the treatment of auto injuries, and will provide you with the comprehensive care you need to heal quickly and get your life back sooner. Our board-certified physicians are standing by to ensure that no appointment is necessary, but feel free to reserve an appointment online or call 210-342-2777 today.
