Many individuals suffer from delayed pain or post arthritis trauma which could be due to many reasons. Please continue reading to learn more about delayed injuries, how long after a car accident can joint pain symptoms appear and how to spot them.
How Long After a Car Accident can Joint Pain Symptoms Appear?
Given the speed and energy involved when a car crashes, it's no surprise that the consequences can be catastrophic. You should consider yourself fortunate if you do not have to depart the site in an ambulance. However, you may still be harmed and be unaware of it. Some injuries might not manifest immediately, and discomfort following a vehicle collision can last for hours, weeks, and even months.
Many individuals complain about Joint pain appearing months after crashing. Yes, it's not unusual; many individuals suffer from delayed pain or post arthritis trauma which could be due to many reasons. Read further to get more details regarding this issue.
Here's the scenario: you had a car accident recently. It was frightening, and you have shaken afterward, but you walked away from the situation uninjured and felt well. That's fantastic. You must not have been injured because you are not in pain.
Regrettably, this is not always the case. Car accidents typically result in delayed discomfort, symptoms, and injuries. Following a crash, you must be diligent in checking yourself for pain for several weeks. Please continue reading to learn more about delayed injuries and how to spot them.
Joint Pain Appearing Months after Car Crashing
One typical cause of delayed symptoms is that our systems experience a massive surge of adrenaline and endorphins during a traumatic incident such as a car accident. Immediately following an accident, the production of these hormones might disguise feelings of pain.
Everyone reacts differently to stress and trauma, and researchers are still trying to figure out why some people have instant symptoms while others experience delayed pain and discomfort. Regardless, the message is that even if you feel good after a car accident, you are not yet out of the woods. In the days, weeks, and months following the event, you should keep a watchful eye on yourself and contact your doctor if you have any new pain or injury symptoms.
If you are experiencing joint pain months after your accident, it could be the reason for post-traumatic arthritis. Let's see what it is and how it affects you.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis (PTA)
Any joint damage might result in traumatic arthritis. It is critical to distinguish between common arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis.
Post-traumatic arthritis occurs due to trauma, whereas common arthritis develops gradually and for no apparent reason. Post-traumatic arthritis accounts for around 12% of all osteoarthritis occurrences.
The emergence of symptoms might be as long as 2-5 years following a joint injury. When too much pressure is applied to the cartilage, it might bruise, and this can happen even if there is no visible harm.
The joint injury does not manifest itself for months. More extensive cartilage damage might result in loose fragments when the cartilage separates from the bone. It's uncommon, but surgery may be required if severe symptoms impair your quality of life. Most patients can control their post-traumatic arthritis with lifestyle adjustments and exercise, as well as wellness devices like Sensonica® Vega that are typically part of their overall recovery plan from the original injury.
Symptoms
Here are a few signs that you may have post-traumatic arthritis. It contains the following items: Inflammation of the joint.
- Effusion of synovium
- Joint discomfort
- Instability to weight-bearing activities
- Instability of joints
A diagnosis of post-traumatic arthritis is possible, especially if the ailment starts at a young age. Post-traumatic arthritis usually heals independently, but it is considered chronic if the symptoms persist after six months. Pain might come and go over a long period, and inflammation of the joint or surrounding area may or may not add to the discomfort. Symptoms may vanish without serious medical intervention, although they may reappear after a while.
Treatment
Conservative care is the preferred treatment, with surgery considered only when all other options have been failed. The affected joints and the level of injury to the joint will be determined by surgical management.
When conservative treatment fails, a hip replacement may treat post-traumatic hip arthritis. Medical treatment cannot stop the progression of post-traumatic arthritis, although it can help manage the symptoms. Patients have typically prescribed glucosamine supplements and anti-inflammatory pain medicines. The treatment will be identical to that of osteoarthritis.
Conservative management entails the following:
- Changes inactivity
- Using a mobility assistance device to unload the joint
- An exercise program designed to improve range of motion, strength, and coordination.
- Weight control
Physiotherapy is also essential in these patients' post-surgical care. The type of surgery will determine the rehabilitation strategy.
You've already gone through a lot if you've been through an accident, and finding out you have arthritis after the fact might be frustrating.
Remember that for most people, post-traumatic arthritis is only a temporary stumbling block on the way to recovery. Even if arthritis becomes a long-term problem, it is managed. You can get a consultation from the best orthopedic surgeon to manage your condition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1- Is it possible for a car crash to result in chronic pain?
Injuries from an accident, if left untreated, can cause persistent pain and suffering long after the event has gone from memory.
2- How long does post-traumatic arthritis take to develop?
PTA can develop quickly, in less than a year, or it might be asymptomatic for a long time, even 10–20 years after the trauma.
3- Can an accident result in musculoskeletal pain?
Musculoskeletal injuries are prevalent following an accident. These injuries include those that affect human movement, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs, blood vessels, and so on.
4- How long does it take for injuries to manifest following a car accident?
Car accident injuries are usually visible right once, but some can take days or even weeks to develop. In rare cases, a life-threatening injury may develop for months before someone recognizes it was caused by a recent vehicle accident.