Not every type of injury is always painful or even noticeable immediately after an accident. Pain, discomfort, and reduced mobility might take several hours or even days to occur. No matter whether you have been hurt due to a traffic accident, workplace injury, playing sports, or a fall, it’s very natural to feel that everything is all right if there are no initial signs of a problem.
Some injuries are not painful from the first minute or hour when they occur. In fact, during an accident or the completion of any physically strenuous task, your body blocks the feeling of pain. For this reason, you need to visit a doctor or physiotherapist after an accident or rigorous physical activity.
Here is a list of the three most popular reasons for not feeling any pain immediately after sustaining an injury:
Pain relief is not the only goal that you need to achieve for a complete recovery. True recovery should involve restoring the function of your body mechanics.
results in rigid and immobile tissues.
stops the joint movement because of the lack of flexibility.
makes you move differently to protect yourself from possible injury.
makes it impossible for bones to slide over each other normally.
causes unstable body posture during walking. Altered gait requires your body to compensate for your problems through muscle overuse.
Injuries are unique experiences, and they do not occur and develop in the same ways. Types of injuries, routine activities, and individual overall health can impact the development and management of injuries. Some symptoms appear right away; there are symptoms that can be identified several hours or even days after the accident happens. Understanding the reasons for one’s pain is critical at the very beginning to determine what treatment is needed.
The collision of cars, even if it occurred at a low speed, may inflict acute stress on the body. Among the common injuries that one can suffer during such an accident are whiplash and back and neck pain, which can significantly impact one's ability to move and conduct everyday activities.
The slip or fall accident may result in joint and soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and bruises. Such injuries may limit one's mobility and become more painful over time.
One's physical activity and sports may become the reason for overuse of certain parts of the body or muscle strains.
Work-related injuries occur due to lifting injuries or repetitive strain because of repetitive movements or sitting in one position for an extended period of time. Early detection could possibly assist in finding out what the problem is all about.
Before recommending any treatment, our priority is understanding your injury and identifying exactly how it affects your movement and daily activities. We evaluate the whole body to create a personalized recovery plan tailored specifically to you.
The process starts with an extensive personal consultation to find out what your problems are and what you expect from therapy. With the help of your history of injuries and lifestyle, we figure out how your habits can cause pain.
The recovery plan totally depends on the condition of the injuries. Below we discuss some therapies and home care exercises:
Based on the type of injury, chiropractic treatment might assist in enhancing joint mobility and decreasing stiffness due to the accident or repeated strain. Normal joint mobility might help the body restore itself through its natural processes.
Physical therapy can be helpful for recuperation and can help enhance muscle strength and range of motion. Physical therapy is provided depending on your particular case.
Rehabilitation exercises are chosen according to your symptoms, range of motion, and other factors related to your recovery. Such exercises can help you recover muscle strength and enhance balance.
Depending on your specific problem, manual therapy can provide you with an improvement in muscle tension and joint mobility, providing you with more flexibility in certain movements.
Should your injury have affected your ability to move normally, mobility training could benefit you by improving your balance, coordination, and your range of movement. Improved mobility would be able to facilitate your everyday activities, helping you get back to work, sports, and many other areas of your life.
Even after you visit the physiotherapy clinic, recovery will continue to happen at home. The home exercise program will help you maintain your improvements outside the clinic and will help to improve your flexibility and strength, as well as facilitate your recovery process.
Healing takes place outside the clinic, too. Your decisions determine your success. Walking will improve circulation. This will make the healing process faster.
Good sleep will be your best way to recover. Sleep helps rebuild muscles and decreases pain.
Do your daily routine. This builds strength and prevents setbacks.
Use ice for swelling. Use heat for muscle tightness.
Listen to your body. Avoid pushing through sharp pain.
Decide to have your injury assessed promptly right after your accident, preferably 24 to 72 hours after it happened.
Your injury will be directly linked to the accident by prompt evaluations. This is important because it generates relevant medical records. Otherwise, insurance providers might be able to contest whether or not your injuries were a result of the accident.
Getting over an injury is not only about relieving pain but also moving with ease and assurance. At Allied Chiropractic Therapy, all our patients undergo initial assessments to determine how their injuries affect movement and posture.
Based on the findings of such assessments, we come up with a specialized plan for treatment that could comprise chiropractic care, physical therapy, rehabilitation exercises, and movement training.
Yes, injury symptoms frequently appear days after an accident. It is very common to feel completely fine immediately after a crash, only to develop pain, stiffness, or other medical issues 24 to 72 hours later.
You only need X-rays before treatment if your doctor sees a clear need for them. An X-ray is a quick, painless test that takes a picture of the inside of your body to check for hidden problems.
Yes, these two treatments work great together. A chiropractor fixes joint problems. A physical therapist (PT) builds muscle strength. Think of your body like a car. The chiropractor aligns the wheels. The PT rebuilds the engine, so the wheels stay straight.
Get evaluated within 24 to 72 hours of injuries. Even if you feel fine, adrenaline can hide real pain. Hidden issues like internal bleeding, soft-tissue damage, or concussions can get worse without early care.
Your first visit will take about 45 to 90 minutes. It focuses on finding the root cause of your pain. The process includes medical history, a physical exam, and a care plan. Treatment may also begin during this time.
At Allied Chiropractic Therapy, we focus on understanding your condition before recommending treatment. Through a personalized assessment, we'll discuss your symptoms, evaluate your movement, and create a care plan tailored to your goals.
Dr. Applegate is a board certified Doctor of Chiropractic with over 40 years of extensive training and clinical experience. Dr. Applegate earned his Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic.
