From the Guidelines
Soreness after a car accident typically lasts 2-6 weeks, though this varies widely depending on injury severity. For mild to moderate injuries, you may experience peak discomfort 24-72 hours after the accident, gradually improving over the following weeks.
Key Considerations for Recovery
- For pain management, start with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) at 325-650mg every 4-6 hours or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) at 200-400mg every 4-6 hours as needed, not exceeding recommended daily limits 1.
- Apply ice for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours during the first 48-72 hours, then switch to heat therapy.
- Gentle movement and stretching, as tolerated, can help recovery, while adequate rest is equally important.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe pain, numbness, weakness, headaches that worsen, or difficulty with basic movements, as these may indicate more serious injuries requiring professional evaluation.
Understanding Soreness
Soreness persists because accidents cause microscopic tears in muscles and ligaments that trigger inflammation as part of the healing process, which takes time to resolve completely.
Evidence-Based Recommendations
High-certainty evidence showed that on a 10-cm VAS, acetaminophen plus opioids reduced pain at 1 to 7 days (WMD, −1.71 cm [CI, −2.97 to −0.46 cm]) 1. Moderate-certainty evidence showed that the following interventions reduced pain at 1 to 7 days compared with placebo: acetaminophen alone, oral NSAIDs, and topical NSAIDs 1.
Nonpharmacologic Treatments
Moderate-certainty evidence showed that on a 10-cm VAS, specific acupressure decreased pain and supervised rehabilitation increased pain at 1 to 7 days compared with placebo 1. Low-certainty evidence showed that TENS reduced pain at 1 to 7 days compared with placebo 1.
From the Research
Duration of Soreness after a Car Accident
- The duration of soreness after a car accident can vary depending on the severity of the injury and the individual's overall health 2, 3.
- Acute pain from musculoskeletal injuries, such as those sustained in a car accident, can last from a few weeks to a few months 4.
- For acute low back pain, which is a common complaint after a car accident, muscle relaxants and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be effective in reducing pain, but the effects of other medications, such as opioids and antidepressants, are unknown 5.
- It is essential to note that the use of medications, including NSAIDs, opioids, and muscle relaxants, should be tailored to each patient's needs and used with caution, especially in patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, cardiovascular disease, or chronic renal disease 2, 5.
- Local injections of glucocorticoids, which may be used to treat joint or soft tissue pain after a car accident, can have systemic effects, including Cushing syndrome, loss of bone density, infection, and hyperglycemia, and should be used with caution, especially in higher-risk patients 6.
Factors Influencing Duration of Soreness
- The severity of the injury and the individual's overall health can influence the duration of soreness after a car accident 2, 3.
- The use of medications, such as NSAIDs, opioids, and muscle relaxants, can also impact the duration of soreness, as well as the risk of adverse effects 2, 5.
- The type and dose of glucocorticoids used in local injections can also affect the duration of soreness and the risk of systemic effects 4, 6.