Make sure to take care of yourself after an auto accident
After the initial shock wears off from an auto accident in California, you will start to feel the impact of the crash. Even if you did not have a significant injury, you still need to see a doctor to be sure nothing serious is wrong. However, your care does not end there.
Many injuries will not show up right away after an accident, according to Drugs.com. Muscle pain usually does not show up for a day or two after the incident. Plus, the adrenaline and overall distraction from the event may dull your body’s pain receptors so you do not notice the pain until that wears away, which can take time. As you begin recovering, make sure you watch for signs of additional injuries or complications.
New pain
If you start to feel new pain in your head, chest or abdomen, you need to seek medical care right away. This could indicate a severe health condition or injury that the doctor did not catch during your first visit. Also, any pain that shows up after two days, regardless of where you feel it, needs a doctor to check it over.
Weakness or tingling
If you notice weakness or a loss of feeling in your arms or legs, then you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. This could be a sign of spinal cord or nerve injury, which needs immediate attention to avoid long-term issues.
Follow up
Make sure that you follow all the directions your doctor gives you after your first appointment. Often, accident injuries send you to the emergency room, so you do not see your doctor, but instead the doctor on call. After an ER visit, the doctor will give you instructions to follow up with your regular physician, so ensure that you do so. Your doctor has far more information about your overall health to help him or her better treat you in the long-term than the ER doctor.
Paying attention to your body and following the doctor’s orders after auto crash injuries is the best way to ensure that you do not suffer complications.
