What Injuries Can Happen After a Car Crash, and Why Immediate Care Matters

Whiplash

This is the most common auto injury. Whiplash occurs when your head is rapidly jerked forward and backward, which strains the neck and upper spine. Symptoms may take hours or days to appear and include:

• Neck pain or stiffness

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Shoulder or upper back pain

• Jaw tightness or TMJ dysfunction

Without proper care, whiplash can lead to long-term neck instability and chronic headaches.

Back Injuries

Sudden impact often compresses the spine, resulting in:

• Lumbar sprains or strains

• Herniated or bulging discs

• Sciatica, which is nerve pain that shoots down the leg

• Inflammation in the facet joints

These injuries can create long-lasting mobility issues and nerve-related pain if not addressed early.

Concussions and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Even if you did not hit your head, the rapid deceleration of a crash can cause your brain to shift inside the skull. You may not lose consciousness, but you could still experience:

• Brain fog or memory problems

• Difficulty sleeping

• Light sensitivity

• Mood changes, such as anxiety or irritability

Our team at Restore Wellness Center can refer you for imaging if needed and can support your recovery using safe, non-invasive therapies such as red light therapy and chiropractic care.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Muscles, ligaments, and tendons absorb a great deal of the crash force. This often leads to:

• Swelling and stiffness

• Pain during movement

• Reduced flexibility

Emergency rooms commonly miss these injuries. However, treatments such as chiropractic care, laser therapy, and decompression can reduce inflammation and prevent scar tissue from forming.

Joint Misalignment

Car crashes frequently cause subluxations, which are misalignments in the spine, hips, shoulders, or knees. If untreated, these misalignments may lead to chronic nerve pain, posture issues, and joint degeneration over time.

Why You May Not Feel Injured Right Away

After an accident, your body releases adrenaline and endorphins. These natural chemicals can temporarily block pain and discomfort. As a result, you may feel fine at first, only to wake up days later with:

• Neck or back stiffness

• Headaches

• Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs

• Trouble sleeping or concentrating

These are called delayed-onset injuries. They can become harder to treat the longer they go unnoticed.

Why You Should Get Checked Even If You Feel Fine

If you did not visit the ER or urgent care, it’s still important to be evaluated by a chiropractic physician trained in auto injury care. Early diagnosis:

• Identifies hidden injuries before they worsen

• Helps document your condition for insurance claims

• Reduces the risk of chronic pain or dysfunction

• Promotes faster, more effective healing

How Restore Wellness Center Can Help After a Car Crash

Our approach combines several therapeutic tools to address the root cause of your pain. Every care plan is customized based on your symptoms, physical condition, and recovery goals. Treatments may include:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Realign the spine and joints to reduce inflammation, relieve nerve pressure, and restore normal function after whiplash or impact trauma.

K-Laser Therapy

Encourages soft tissue healing and minimizes scar tissue with deep-penetrating light energy.

Red Light Therapy

Stimulates cellular repair and improves circulation, which helps reduce chronic inflammation and pain, especially for neurological symptoms.

Shockwave Therapy

Breaks up scar tissue and activates the body’s natural healing response in stubborn or deep-tissue injuries.

NeuroMed Electro-Suction Cupping

Reduces muscle tension and inflammation, especially in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. This therapy can help restore mobility after impact injuries.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Increases oxygen flow throughout the body, which supports tissue regeneration. This is particularly helpful for concussions and difficult-to-heal soft tissue injuries.

Acupuncture

Calms the nervous system and encourages natural healing by balancing internal energy flow. It is an effective addition to physical therapies for full-body recovery.

We Handle Insurance Documentation and Legal Support

Restore Wellness Center provides complete injury documentation for:

• Auto insurance (PIP)

• Personal injury cases

• Medical necessity verification

• Return-to-work forms

We can also coordinate with your attorney and help verify your coverage. Our team is here to take the stress out of the process so you can focus on healing.