Car accident - likelihood of being re-concussed?
 

Hi,

Yesterday afternoon I was in a minor car collision on the highway. Traffic was stop and go - I was rolling along at around 5 - 10 miles per hour, when I was suddenly rear ended by the car behind me. It felt as if she was going maybe 15 - 20 miles per hour. Her excuse was that her brakes didn't work.

My head and neck were whipped around pretty good by the impact. It was completely unexpected and my body was totally relaxed at impact. The airbag did not deploy, I suppose the collision wasn't hard enough for that. I had gone to the ER afterwards and gotten xrays of my neck - there are no visible issues.

Question is in the title. It has been around 2 years since my last concussion. It took me around a year and a half to stop experiencing daily headaches. I'm not too bad right now, the day after. Headache is mild but really not too bad.

Do I just monitor symptoms at this point if they arise? I know it's always possible in a situation like this that I've re-injured myself, but is it also possible that I got lucky and am just ok? How will I know?

Thank you.

If you only have a mild headache, it sounds like you are OK. A whiplash accident can cause headaches without traumatizing the brain.

Don't be surprised if your neck develops soreness over the next few days. Whiplash can have a delayed onset of symptoms.

And, try not to worry about what may come. You just may cause it to be true. Anxiety can easily make a 1 on a 10 scale symptom feel like a 8 on a 10 scale symptom.

Mark, as always, I seriously appreciate you having taken the time to write me. Your input means everything to myself and many others on this forum.

Day two hasn't been much worse, headache came on in the late afternoon but I really can't say it's that bad. My biggest fear is that symptoms may come on in a week's time or something - but these are anxious thoughts and I will let them be.

Unfortunately I have to go into work tomorrow. Will see how it goes for the day and report back later. Hoping this whole situation is nothing more than a small setback, if that.