Pain Management Following an Auto Accident
Those who suffer from chronic pain often have trouble going to work, traveling to school, or even doing house chores. Furthermore, pain that is chronic in nature is far more common than people realize. According to statistics that have been recently published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
- Around 20 percent of adults who were surveyed in the United States reported that they suffered from chronic pain.
- Close to 10 percent of those surveyed indicated that they had “high-impact pain,” which was defined as pain that impaired at least one of their major life activities.
- Those who live in poverty, females, and the elderly were more likely to report chronic pain.
- Military veterans suffer from chronic pain more often than those who have not served.
Based on these numbers, severe pain is common and impacts people of all different backgrounds. There are many different ways that someone could develop a pain disorder and one of these is in an auto accident.
Common Causes of Auto Accidents
When it comes to driving, safety is always the highest priority. Unfortunately, despite the most appropriate intentions, car accidents still happen. Every year, thousands of people are killed in motor vehicle collisions and countless more end up with lifelong complications. Some of the most common reasons why crashes occur include:
Speeding: While this may seem obvious, speeding is still a major issue. When people drive too quickly, they have less time to react to changing road conditions. This leads to accidents.
Distracted Driving: As our world becomes more connected than ever before, a growing number of people are having issues putting their phone down. Unfortunately, cell phones and other devices remove eyes from the road and hands from the wheel. This increases the chances of a serious accident taking place.
Changing Weather Conditions: The weather can also impact road safety. Whether it is the darkness that affects visibility, ice that alters the friction between the tires and the road, or even a thunderstorm that makes the roads wet, weather can make it more difficult to drive. During poor weather conditions, people need to slow down and be extra cautious.
One of the long-term issues that people can develop after a serious motor vehicle accident is chronic pain.
Development of Severe Pain Following a Motor Vehicle Collision
Those involved in a severe auto accident can suffer nerve damage that leads to chronic pain. When someone suffers a serious injury in a motor vehicle accident, such as a bone fracture or organ damage, the body responds with an inflammatory response. While this response happens to repair the injury, it can also lead to nerve damage. If this nerve damage becomes permanent, the brain can have trouble interpreting the signals coming from that part of the body. In some cases, the brain interprets these signals as pain. Chronic pain is a major medical problem that requires an interdisciplinary team and a well-rounded treatment approach.
Management of Recurrent Pain
If someone develops chronic pain following a motor vehicle accident, there are several treatment options available. These include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as Tylenol and Motrin are an essential part of pain management.
- For breakthrough pain, opioid medications such as Lortab and Percocet can also be helpful. These can have serious side effects and should be taken carefully.
- For individuals with localized pain, nerve injections with anesthetic medications such as Lidocaine can provide long-term relief.
- In some cases, individuals with intractable pain that does not respond to other options can be corrected with surgery. This is a decision that must be made in conjunction with a trained medical professional.
Non-medication options, such as yoga, exercise, massage, and physical therapy can also be helpful in some cases. In the end, people need help managing chronic pain.
Watch YouTube Video: Teaching You Ways to Cope with Chronic Pain. This video demonstrates ways for people to manage their chronic pain through breathing techniques, exercises, and nutrition.
Contacting an Injury Attorney
When people have developed severe, chronic pain following a car accident, they could struggle to find answers. Fortunately, an injury lawyer in Sacramento can help individuals and their loved ones find answers. An experienced attorney can:
- Work with professionals to recreate the scene of the accident, ensuring that the mechanism is appropriately documented.
- Take a look at the records of the collision to ensure that liability has been assigned to the correct party.
- Help families pursue damages related to their injuries, pain, and suffering.
- Take a case to court, if needed.
Remember, you are not alone following a serious motor vehicle accident. Meeting with a car accident attorney in Sacramento can be helpful. You and your family could be deserving of a financial reward.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident injury lawyer in Sacramento. Pain management is an important and often overlooked issue after a car accident. If you or a family member has developed chronic pain after a motor vehicle accident, contact me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
You can see our verdicts or settlements here.
Visit Yelp, Avvo, & Google to see our past client reviews.
Please see my membership in the Top One Percent, a National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Pain Management Following an Auto Accident: Autoaccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Pixabay. The image has been reproduced here with permission/ Pain Management Following an Auto Accident.
:dr 0p cha [cs 935] cv