Difficulty Eating
Among the problems that individuals might face following an auto accident, issues related to chewing, swallowing, and digestion are often overlooked. Even though many people think about bone fractures, problems with food ingestion are no less severe. Losing the ability to eat can lead to significant distress both for the individuals and their family members. Some of the signs of eating problems include:
- Food aversion or a lack of desire to eat
- The feeling of food getting stuck in the throat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Burning in the chest
- Seeing undigested food in the toilet
Sometimes, these issues may not show up until some time after the initial accident has taken place.
The Differential Diagnosis: Difficulty Eating
The digestive tract runs from top to bottom; however, this also means that injuries to the digestive tract at any step along the way can lead to eating difficulties. Some of the possible reasons why individuals might have trouble eating include:
Injuries to the Jaw: Injuries to the jaw can lead to eating problems. If the maxilla or mandible are broken, this will impact the way that the teeth come together. This will make it hard to chew food into chunks that can be swallowed.
Dysphagia: Sometimes, people can chew their food just fine but could have a lot of pain when they swallow, called dysphagia. This could be a sign of a tear to the esophagus. This can occur due to blunt trauma to the neck in a motor vehicle collision.
Achalasia: Achalasia is the inability to swallow. Sometimes, individuals will describe a lump of food that has gotten stuck in their throat. This often develops from damage to one of the nerves that power the esophagus. It could be due to a penetrating injury.
Reflux: Many people suffer from reflux, and sometimes this develops after a serious accident. Reflux, often described as heartburn, happens when the sphincter separating the esophagus and the stomach is damaged. When the sphincter is damaged, food can wash up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing reflux and heartburn symptoms.
Watch YouTube Video: Unable to Swallow – A Patient’s Story of Years Living with Achalasia. This video features a patient who suffers from Achalasia which prevents him from swallowing food or water.
Treatment of Eating Problems
The treatment of eating difficulties will center around the exact reason why people are having difficulty. Some of the options include:
- Any bone fractures that might be contributing to the eating problems will be repaired.
- Reflux issues are typically managed with dietary changes first. Medicines can be added if needed. Surgery is a last resort.
- Those who have nerve damage as a contributing factor will need to see a specialist to discuss their options.
Most importantly, eating issues can lead to severe mental health problems. Therefore, anyone with a prolonged eating problem should seek help from a mental health professional.
Contacting an Injury Lawyer
If an individual has difficulty eating following a traumatic accident. This can lead to a large amount of pain and suffering. Furthermore, it could also lead to a surgical procedure that also comes with its own risks. This feeling of uncertainty, combined with prolonged recovery, could leave a family with more questions than answers. Understandably, families need to know where to find help. A good place to start is talking with a personal injury attorney in Sacramento. An injury attorney with:
- Reviewing the accident and medical records to make sure that all details are considered.
- Negotiating with financial institutions to help families receive their benefits promptly.
- Helping families pursue damages related to their injuries, any of the complications, and emotional pain and suffering.
- Transitioning a case from the negotiation table to the courtroom when necessary.
Families need to know that they aren’t alone when facing such a difficult situation. Reaching out to a Sacramento personal injury attorney is the first step to receiving monetary compensation.
Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Attorney in Sacramento. Problems eating after an auto accident can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies and quality of life problems down the road. If your loved one has struggled with eating after a significant accident, call me today at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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