You might feel and look fine after experiencing a slip and fall or a car crash, but it’s possible that you may have sustained a hidden injury. In simple definition, these are ailments that don’t show up immediately, but that doesn’t mean it’s not serious or life-changing.
After consulting with experienced personal injury attorneys, you can start searching for possible signs and seek medical attention to bring hidden injuries to the surface. Here’s a list of the most common ones and how you can recognize them.
Whiplash
Whiplash injury is an ever-present possibility in rear-end collisions. This is when two vehicles hit at a speedy impact, jolting the motorists and their passengers. The force can affect tendons, ligaments, and muscles in the upper back and neck. However, it may not present itself immediately, and it’s easy to dismiss it as a crick or minor soreness.
When left unchecked, whiplash can develop symptoms such as severe headaches, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating, and dizziness, among others. When you start feeling the signs, it’s best to call a doctor and get some medical assistance.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injury encompasses ligament and muscle strains, but they become more serious if left unattended. These seemingly simple injuries can get worse over time and without medical attention. Inflammation can start limiting movement, while microtears can bring chronic pain. It’s worth noting that the nerve might be affected as well. Nerve damage is a serious matter and can manifest in different ways, including tingling and numbing along the pathway.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is the accumulation of negative emotional and psychological energies you received, and it can vary widely depending on the situation. Some of the more common symptoms include severe anxiety, flashbacks, and recurring nightmares.
The hidden injury can present itself in the long term- you may experience trouble sleeping, anxiety, and depression as a result. The effect can be as debilitating as a physical injury, and a professional psychologist is needed to treat it.
Concussion
Concussion is defined as mild traumatic brain injury. You can get it even if you didn’t black out during the accident. The symptoms can be subtle and present themselves as irritability, nausea, headache, difficulty focusing, and sleep disturbances.
If you suspect a concussion, you’ll need to receive medical attention immediately. A neurological evaluation can rule out mild traumatic brain injury, and a doctor can recommend the appropriate treatment if it’s confirmed.
All these hidden injuries can be overlooked initially, but then it makes sense that you get checked by a healthcare professional as soon as you can. These things can also factor in if you’re building a personal claim injury. Pay close attention to what you’re feeling, and write down all the symptoms that appear after the accident. Do not just ignore the signs, however minor they may seem as small injuries can build up over time. If you need legal help, then it’s best to consult with a reputable personal injury lawyer in your area.