Why Pain Can Show Up Days After a Crash
Illinois Injury Insider Staff ·
Symptoms after a crash do not always start at the scene. Stiffness, neck and back pain and headaches can appear hours or days later, so new symptoms are worth getting examined.
Why it happens
In the hours after a crash many people feel shaken but not much pain. Soreness and stiffness can build as the body settles and swelling develops.
What people commonly notice later
Neck stiffness, back pain, headaches, and tingling or numbness in an arm or hand are among the symptoms people report in the days after a collision.
What to do
Write down what you feel and when it started. Get examined by a licensed provider, and describe every symptom, including ones that seem small.
When it is urgent
Severe headache, confusion, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or chest or belly pain call for emergency care.
Questions people ask
- Is it normal to feel worse the next day?
- Many people report more soreness and stiffness a day or two after a crash than at the scene. A provider can examine you and tell you what it means in your case.
- Should I wait to see if it passes?
- If new symptoms appear, getting examined gives you an answer and a record of what you reported and when.
Nothing on this page is medical or legal advice.