The most common call we get
The hospital took a scan, found no fracture, and sent you home with instructions to rest and take something for the pain. A week later it is worse.
Nothing went wrong at the hospital. They were looking for different things. The ER rules out anything life threatening. It does not assess the soft tissue, joint, and nerve injuries that cause pain for months afterward.
What the ER scan does not show
Whiplash, disc irritation, joint restriction, and nerve compression do not show up on the scans the ER runs, and they do not resolve on their own just because nothing is broken.
- Whiplash: the head is thrown forward and back faster than the neck muscles can brace. Ligaments and joints at the front and back of the neck are strained.
- Disc irritation: compression and shearing force on a spinal disc. It can send pain down an arm or leg.
- Joint restriction: specific spinal levels stop moving properly after the impact.
- Nerve compression: numbness, pins and needles, or weakness means something is compressing or irritating a nerve root.
Why it can feel worse days later
Symptoms that show up late are normal, not a sign you are imagining it. Adrenaline and muscle guarding mask injuries for a day or two. Watch for:
- Neck stiffness that is worse the second or third morning
- Headache starting at the base of the skull
- Pain spreading into a shoulder blade or down an arm
- Low back tightness when you stand up after sitting
- Numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in a hand or foot
Numbness, weakness, or a headache that keeps getting worse should be looked at promptly. A suspected concussion goes to a medical doctor or an emergency department. Call 911 in an emergency.
What an examination here looks at
Gonstead chiropractic is the method used at Glacier Point. The examination is detailed: visual assessment, motion and static palpation, instrumentation, and full spine digital X-ray taken in our own office. We identify the level that is injured, and treatment is directed there.
For accident patients the imaging matters twice over. It guides the treatment, and it is objective evidence of what the crash did. More about how we examine accident injuries.
When to come in
As soon as you can. Early examination means the injury is documented while it is fresh, treatment starts before compensation patterns set in, and there is no unexplained gap in your records.
If your accident was weeks or months ago and the pain has not gone, that is still worth an appointment. Late is better than not at all.
Common questions
I was checked at the hospital and they said nothing was broken. Do I still need this?
If you are still in pain, yes. The ER rules out anything life threatening. Whiplash, disc irritation, joint restriction, and nerve compression do not show up on the scans the ER runs, and they do not resolve on their own just because nothing is broken.
What if my accident was months ago?
If your accident was weeks or months ago and the pain has not gone, that is still worth an appointment. Late is better than not at all.