Upper Limb Weakness After a Car Accident
Upper limb weakness after a car accident can often be a serious problem. Even minor car accidents can result in serious damage to muscles and nerves. After a car accident, soft tissue injuries and nerve damage can result in an individual experiencing upper limb weakness and other critical symptoms. This is true even for individuals who do not experience immediate pain after an accident. If you find yourself experiencing upper limb weakness after a car accident, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention.
Regardless of the force or impact, a car accident can cause an individual to experience injury to their muscles. In fact, this is one of the most common injuries that an individual sustains after a car accident. Often, an individual’s muscles are damaged as a result of a whiplash injury, common in rear-end collisions. Whiplash injury can cause the muscles and tendons in the neck to become stretched from the violent forward and backward movement of the head upon impact. This rapid movement creates a series of soft-tissue strains in the neck resulting in weakness of the shoulders and arms. Other symptoms of whiplash include neck stiffness, sharp neck pain, dizziness, blurred vision, memory loss, headaches and concentration problems. While the pain associated with whiplash injuries may take several days to develop, it is important to seek immediate treatment. If left untreated, a whiplash injury could result in chronic pain.
Muscle spasms can also occur after an accident, resulting in upper limb weakness. Individuals who suffer from neck and back pain also report suffering from muscle spasms that happen after muscles become stretched. Spasms occur when muscles tighten to protect an individual from any movement that could cause further injury to the affected muscle. Overstretching of the muscle fibers causes swelling, which often results in upper limb weakness after a car accident.
Upper limb weakness after a car accident can also be caused by nerve damage. Nerves are responsible for carrying out several important bodily functions, including the transmission of signals to other parts of the body. When nerves are injured, it can greatly impact an individual’s ability to maintain a normal, healthy life. Because they are comprised of sensitive tissues, nerves can become easily damaged after a car accident. Generally, nerves become damaged from pressure, stretching, or the nerve itself being cut. The most common ways for nerves to be damaged during a car accident is from whiplash, blunt-force trauma, or lacerations. Upper limb weakness after a car accident can present as a symptom of nerve damage.
West Coast Wellness understands that accidents can affect your body in ways you may not even be aware of. Dr. Barr is an auto injury doctor who has dedicated his career to helping patients throughout the Southwest Florida area with pain related to automobile injuries. To learn more about pain relief, contact West Coast Wellness at (941) 210-3969 after an accident. We are here to help you relieve upper limb weakness after a car accident.