Why You Should See a Doctor After a Car Accident Even if You Don’t Feel Pain — Yet

A great deal of the population drives almost every single day. With four million miles of public roads across the lower 48 states, there’s a lot of asphalt to cover. Unfortunately, these miles and miles of roads lend themselves to car accidents. 

If you’ve been in a car accident, Dr. Pallavi Cherukupally of Regenerative Sports, Spine and Spa urges you to see a doctor as soon as you can — even if the crash was minor and you don’t feel any pain. 

This is because many car accident injuries can take 24 to 48 hours to really set in and start showing symptoms. But once they do show symptoms, you’ll be glad you’re already in a doctor’s care.

How do I know if I’m injured after a minor car accident?

Injuries after a serious car accident are usually obvious and treated as medical emergencies. After a minor car crash, however, such as a fender bender or side-impact collision with minor damage, it can be tough to tell if you need medical attention. 

Perhaps you walked away with just some surface scratches or maybe a small bruise. Maybe you walked away with no signs of impact at all. Don’t let this fool you: many accident-related injuries are internal and won’t bring rise to symptoms until days later. 

You might be injured from your car accident if: 

• You have a bruise that won’t heal up 
• You keep waking up with neck pain
• You have a constant headache
• You feel stiff and achy in any of your joints
• You have muscle pain that feels like soreness
• Any of your day-to-day activities are limited by nagging pain

When should I see a doctor? 

If any of the above symptoms apply to you, you should see a doctor right away. Dr. Cherukupally can evaluate you for musculoskeletal injuries, such as whiplash, subluxation, bone fractures, herniated discs, and head trauma. 

What treatments can I get after a car accident?

Medical treatment after a car accident varies depending on the type of injury and the severity. Generally, Dr. Cherukupally focuses on immediate pain relief and then follows with a long-term treatment plan to restore your health. 

Some common treatments for car accident injuries include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to speed wound healing, steroid injections, and stem-cell therapy to induce healing on a cellular level.

To learn more about treatments for car accident injuries, call Regenerative Sports, Spine and Spa at 407-205-1307 or visit us online to request an appointment at our Orlando, Florida office.