Automobile Injuries: What You Need to Know
Every year millions of people from across the world, unfortunately, experience automobile accidents whether minor or major ones. Injuries from these accidents can differ from minor bruises to broken bones, head injuries, and other critical conditions. At the same time, accident injury treatment and recovery from wounds also vary primarily depending on the severity of the injury.
Therefore, we strongly recommend you get the injuries checked as soon as possible. The root cause of the problem needs to be identified instead of just treating the symptoms. This prevents any future complications especially in the spine region of your body. At times, a minor injury can become traumatic if left untreated. Here are a few common symptoms that require medical attention immediately.
- Intense pain – swelling and bruises
- Headache, loss of concentration, or faintness
- Tingling or numbness
- Restricted range of movement
- Drooping arm, shoulder, or joint
- Blurred vision
Well, these symptoms significantly vary depending on the nature and intensity of injuries. A medical professional identifies the symptoms, examines the injuries, and helps you recover fast.
Head and Brain Injury
In a severe car accident, you are more susceptible to head injury particularly if it gets hit to a side window, windshield, or steering. This sudden blow can result in a concussion which is referred to as traumatic brain injury. In this condition, your brain abruptly jumps around inside the skull resulting in unusual chemical changes in the brain. The symptoms of this injury may take some time to appear. However, some of the most common symptoms include nausea, headache, neck pain, or dizziness.
At times, it can take up to few weeks for the symptoms to appear. When you consult a health care professional, the primary treatment for minor concussions is rest. A doctor is more likely to recommend you not to involve in high-intensity physical activities for some time. Also, you must not participate in activities that need a lot of concentration. On the other hand, a severe concussion may lead to bleeding under the skull which is a medical emergency.
Whiplash
Whiplash is another commonly occurring injury many people experience when involved in an automobile accident. Typically, the neck muscles of your body protect the back against any injury by covering the impact. In a car accident, your brain is not familiar with the incoming force for which the neck muscles are not prepared.
You may experience multiple symptoms in a whiplash including neck and back pain, fatigue, headache, nausea, etc. Once again, the symptoms of whiplash may not appear immediately instead can take up to several weeks or even months. For any specific back injuries or pain, we suggest you consult a back injury doctor.
For whiplash, chiropractic treatment is one of the best-recommended options. Chiropractors are well trained in examining the patient completely instead of simply focusing on treating the obvious symptoms. When you visit a chiropractor, they will discuss every detail and carry out a physical examination to come up with the best-suited treatment plan.
When you follow the recommended treatment program, your body is more likely to heal better and faster. The treatment plan may include spinal decompression, physical therapy, massage therapy, spinal alignment, or manipulation combined with other chiropractic techniques.
Broken Ribs or Bones
Ribs are delicate and therefore even a slight impact can break them. Suffering from broken ribs is one of the most common conditions in a car accident. This is due to the impact of the collision – forward, backward, or sideways. Broken ribs can be extremely painful and may need a lot of time to recover. On the other hand, you may suffer from broken legs, arms, shoulders, or hips.
An automobile accident exerts unusual and unnatural pressure on your body. If your bones are unable to withstand the pressure, they are more likely to break. Broken bones are common in most collision types involving both side-impact and rear-end accidents.
Internal Bleeding
While many people suffer from expected and unexpected cuts in an accident, you may also suffer from internal bleeding. It can be dangerous or even life-threatening if not treated immediately following an accident. Make sure to seek prompt medical attention. If there is any probability that you are suffering from internal bleeding, it’s important to find urgent medical care before these injuries can risk your life. Be very careful!
Automobile Injuries: What You Need to Know
Herniated Disc
As bones or ribs are susceptible to breaking in a car crash, you may experience herniated disc. The condition occurs when single or multiple vertebrae in your spine are damaged or move out of place. It can result in intense pain and other complications as well. If left untreated or ignored for a certain duration, you may have to go through severe conditions requiring operation or surgery.
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Knee Trauma
The sudden and forceful impact of an automobile collision can affect your knees as they hit the dashboard. This can result in extreme pain to your kneecap or ligaments. You may require knee braces to recover. In critical cases, you may undergo surgery to rebuild the knee structure and recover the damage. Keep in mind knees are a complicated body structure and any knee injuries can be very painful. Also, they can frustrate you a lot considering the limited range of mobility.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Apart from the physical injuries, you may suffer from emotional or mental injuries. One of the most common conditions is post-traumatic stress disorder. Ignoring the symptoms of stress can take you to a depressed state of mind making your life miserable. Make sure to consult a doctor for your emotional wellbeing and recover from the mental health treatment.
Medical Care & Treatment
Here are a few common treatment options for the injuries you may experience in an automobile accident.
- Physical Therapy: It focuses on restoring movement, relieve pain and improve the overall range of flexibility and mobility.
- Strengthening & Conditioning: The exercise program will help you get back to routine activities faster.
- Massage Therapy: Enhances blood circulation and relaxes injured muscles.
- Myofascial Release: Speed up muscles’ reflex, relax muscle contraction and regain normal functionality.
- Physiotherapy: It’s more like an exercise therapy to improve range of motion.
- Traction: Focuses on relieving pressure and strengthen bones particularly in the spine region.
- Splints & Braces: These are required to treat any sprains or fractures that commonly occur in a car accident.
- Electrical Muscle Stimulation: Reduces muscle spasms and prevents atrophy.
- Therapeutic Ultrasound: Improves blood flow to the affected areas of the body and speeds up the healing process.
- Exercise Therapy: It focuses on improving the range of mobility, increase stamina and build muscle.
Wrapping Up
Unfortunately, if you are involved in a car accident, consider your health as the topmost priority to prevent further damage or complications. Consulting a doctor on time means recovery from the condition in the best possible way. You will undergo advanced diagnostic tests to identify any damage to the tissues, muscles, bones, etc. This helps in diagnosing and correcting damage as soon as possible. At the same time, it will help you build your insurance case for a fair financial compensation.
Automobile Injuries: What You Need to Know
