Not too long after a car crash, you may notice dull or aching pain down your back.
Even though it may not seem like it at the time of the accident, it could be the beginning signs of a spinal cord injury.
Common symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, you should note if you are experiencing physical problems in your chest or lungs. Difficulty breathing, loss of bowel control, odd reflexes or spasms and nerve pain all signal that the crash affected your spinal cord.
Poor circulatory control, such as low blood pressure, is another common complication. Not being able to feel sensations on your skin or noticing pressure sores in various places means your nervous system and spinal cord sustained damage.
Pain and adrenaline
If you cannot move your back or neck in various directions without sharp pain, you may need to seek medical help. More extreme symptoms can appear if you leave this injury untreated for long stretches of time.
Since the burst of adrenaline during the accident often covers up the initial feeling of pain, you may not notice how bad you feel until you have time alone to rest. Swelling or inflammation around your spinal cord can increase in the days after an accident.
Damage and lasting issues
Checking for soft tissue or bone injuries is another way to tell if your spine sustained damages. Brain trauma can impair your emotional health, so mood swings are a sign of this issue. Motor vehicle accidents are some of the most common ways to hurt your spinal cord, which means acting fast is vital.