After an accident, you should always be evaluated by a medical provider, whether it be at a hospital or your physician’s office, to address any obvious concerns. However, there are times when spinal cord injuries (and other accident-related injuries, for that matter) may not show up immediately.
Some of the signs to look out for in the days and weeks following an accident are numbness or dizziness, severe back or abdominal pain, loss of feeling or sensation, and trouble with breathing or chest pain.
If you experience any of these, you should treat it as a medical emergency. Spinal cord injuries and other injuries showing these symptoms after an accident require a 911 call or emergency room visit for immediate care.