When Feeling Okay Is Not Enough

One of the most common sentences heard after a motor vehicle accident (MVA) is, “I’m fine.” Unfortunately, this is a slippery slope of risk because adrenaline, endorphins, and shock can hide pain and injuries for hours or even days. At Chambers Medical Group we see serious injuries that have remained hidden and showed up weeks later. This can be extremely frustrating for patients who thought they were okay but now feel miserable. Dr. Aaron Workman of Chambers Medical Group, one of the highest rated car accident medical doctor car providers in Kentucky, discusses 5 reasons why waiting till you “feel bad” is a bad idea.

1. Whiplash Does not Have to Hurt Immediately
   Pain from whiplash may not appear immediately after a car accident. Ligaments and discs get stretched during the impact, and the resulting inflammation can take hours or days to reach its maximum. By the time the pain arrives, the body may have already started forming scar tissue.

2. The Invisible Concussion
   A mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) can show no symptoms immediately after an MVA. Issues like headaches, dizziness, brain fog, or changes in sleep patterns can appear days later. I had a patient this week that was just in to get checked up, felt fine, yet had several signs of concussion as we got into some of the exam. Getting an exam right after the accident gives doctors a great reference point if problems or symptoms change over time.

3. Soft Tissue Hide and Seek
   Fractures show up immediately and are usually ruled out by the ER if you end up in the hospital following an MVA. Torn muscles, ligaments, and bulging discs may take a while to develop. Pain from these injuries often starts when adrenaline wears off and you try to sleep, bend over, or just turn your head. Your trip to the ER may have shown no broken bones, but that still does not mean you are fine.

4. Internal Bleeding or Bruising

If the seat belt left a big bruise across your stomach, it could be hiding some internal injuries. Some traumas to organs like the kidneys, liver, or spleen may not hurt at first. You can find pain in these areas days later. An exam can catch these problems early through different tests or imaging and make injuries less stressful than they should be.

5. Insurance Deadlines
   Every state sets strict deadlines for insurance claims that begin the moment an MVA happens. If you wait weeks until pain appears, insurance companies can argue the injury was not from the accident itself. Getting a medical exam the same day or the next creates a great record of how you are doing at that moment. This step documents when your injuries started and guards your right to insurance coverage. It is also important to be honest with your doctor. The exam is not the time to pretend to “be fine.” If you are not thorough with symptoms, they will likely not be documented.

Patients who come in “just to be safe” almost always end up glad they did. After a few weeks it usually kicks in just how bad things are. Feeling fine at the scene is just your body’s way of keeping you calm, getting you out of the situation, but not proof that you have no injuries. At Chambers Medical Group we can give you an exam, go over areas of concern, and get you out the same day. One quick trip can prevent a surprise in the days following and get you back on the road to a faster recovery.

— This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

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