There are many different kinds of neck injuries that someone could suffer from after a car accident. These include injuries such as cervical spondylolisthesis, which is when the vertebrae slips out of alignment, or pinched nerves from damage to the spinal column. Unfortunately, many of these injuries are serious and may have a lasting impact on a person’s life.
The neck is vulnerable in a car crash, which is why it’s so important to seek medical help if you’ve been involved in a crash. Consider this: Your neck has seven small bones that have the potential to break, move out of place or be crushed. If any of these things happen, the skull will not be supported well and the spinal cord could be damaged.
While the cervical discs are designed to absorb shock, they can only absorb so much. Often, the impact of a crash is so severe that the discs cannot absorb all the shock and are left damaged.
What are the symptoms of neck injuries following a crash?
There are a few different symptoms that you could have after suffering a neck injury. These include:
- Shooting pains in the neck or down the arms
- Tenderness at the back of the skull
- Fatigue
- Muscle spasms in the neck area
- Blurry vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Trouble moving the head from side to side
- Throbbing pain
- Nausea and dizziness
- Memory issues
- Numbness or tingling in the arms
These and other symptoms are a sign that you need medical care as soon as possible.
Not all neck injuries will be apparent at first
Not all neck injuries have signs like pain or dysfunction right away. It takes time for swelling and pain to develop, so some types of neck injuries may have a delayed onset. To avoid complications related to a neck injury, it’s smart to go to the hospital after you call 911 and emergency services to the scene. A medical exam will verify if you have a broken bone or other damage to the neck and help doctors decide on the best course of treatment to help prevent long-term complications and symptoms from your neck injury.