How to Monitor Whiplash After A Car Accident In Houston

Suffering from pain in your neck after a car accident is extremely common. Whiplash occurs when your head is jerked one way and then another. However, neck pain can be a sign of more serious injury than just whiplash. If you’ve been in a Houston, Texas, car accident and are experiencing injuries, pay attention to them.

Some serious injuries start with just small, nagging pain, which is why people ignore them and don’t see a doctor. Then, when the pain grows into something more crippling, they finally start to pay attention. 

Common whiplash symptoms 

Whiplash is an extremely common injury to sustain following a car accident because you don’t have to be going very fast for the impact to cause the whipping motion to your neck. In fact, accidents as slow as five miles an hour can cause whiplash depending on the circumstances.

Common symptoms you might experience after whiplash include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Range of motion issues
• Upper back or arm pain

Additional symptoms that could accompany whiplash but be red flags, include:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Vision issues
• Ringing in the ears
• Difficultly sleeping
• Trouble concentrating or forgetting things

While these symptoms could be from the trauma of the car accident experience, they could also point to more serious issues that you should see a doctor to evaluate. 

Severe Houston, Texas, car accidents injuries

Now that you know what to look for in your injury symptoms, here are the underlying more serious injuries you could be suffering from after a Houston, Texas, car accident.

• Severe or chronic whiplash – most cases of whiplash heal with some time. Other, more severe cases, last for months or even years if left untreated. Plus, because you can experience blurred vision or memory loss, severe whiplash is not something you want to leave unchecked.
• Spine injuries – the spine has three major areas – the thoracic, lumbar and spinal cord. Any one of these areas of the back could suffer serious injury during a Houston, Texas, car accident. Simple daily activities, such as bending over or walking could become painful or cumbersome. The back is made up of a variety of muscles and nerves. When displaced or injured, you can experience severe pain and limited mobility.
• Herniated disc – a herniated disc can occur in the back or the neck. The most common area where individuals experience herniated discs is the low back. When you suffer a herniated disc, you might have pain or weakness in your legs as well as pressure on your spine that causes pain, tingling or numbness.
• Traumatic brain injury – a traumatic brain injury is one of the worst injuries you can sustain following a car accident. These injuries are generally due to a sudden or severe blow to the head. The mildest form of a traumatic brain injury is a concussion. If you believe you might have a concussion, you should see a medical professional immediately to prevent it from causing further harm. Other forms of traumatic brain injuries can have severe mental complications.

If you suspect you have any form of injury following a Houston, Texas, car accident, you should go to the emergency room or see a doctor immediately. The worse your symptoms get, the longer it can take to heal from the injuries. 

Car accident victims can ensure that the at-fault driver pays their medical bills and pain and suffering. Contact The Law Office of Roy Boujaoude to learn more about the steps you can take toward recovery from the accident.