An auto accident is an unfortunate and unplanned event. If you suffer injuries, you can feel anger, grief, or shock. Pain is the way the body alerts us to protect us from danger. After an accident, you can reach out to the Spartanburg auto accident doctor.
Causes of Pain and Soreness After a Car Accident
After a car accident, some people feel pain and soreness, but others may not experience any form of pain. Some of the common reasons for the two are:
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Muscle Strains and Sprains
At some point in your life, you probably have felt muscle pain. Strains and sprains can occur as a result of an injury or overuse. The force of a collision in an automobile accident might cause your body to move in unusual ways.
A sprain is when a ligament is strained or torn. Ligaments are a form of connective tissue that joins two bones or a joint together. Ligament sprains are common after joint injuries.
A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is strained or torn. Muscles are a form of skeletal tissue that provides movement and strength to our bodies. Tendon is a form of connective tissue that connects muscle to bone. Muscles and tendons get strained in car accidents.
When a muscle or tendon is torn, the area becomes inflamed and painful. Most strains, sprains, and general muscular aches will go away independently, but you may need medical help in some circumstances.
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Whiplash Injury
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that causes pain in the neck and upper back. During an automobile accident, the neck is abruptly bent forward and backward, or side to side, resulting in a whiplash injury. The neck and upper back muscles, ligaments, and tendons stretch and tear due to this movement.
Common whiplash symptoms are neck pain, upper back pain, weariness, muscle aches, and stiffness. Headaches at the base of the skull are common. Muscle spasms and a limited range of motion in the neck are common severe whiplash symptoms. Whiplash, if left untreated, can lead to persistent discomfort.
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Spinal Injury
Car accidents are one of the major causes of spinal cord injuries. Force during a crash can partially or completely break one or more of your vertebrae, resulting in muscular soreness at the site of the injury.
Small particles of bone from severe fractures may enter the spinal canal and produce a spinal injury, resulting in paralysis or permanent loss of feeling. Visit a doctor if you have symptoms like tingling, numbness, weakness, partial paralysis, or muscle spasms.
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Lacerations and Contusions
A bruise or a collection of damaged blood vessels beneath the skin is referred to as a contusion. A laceration is a deep wound that penetrates the skin. The trauma of a car accident can result in contusions and lacerations that affect the entire body, including muscles.
Lacerations and contusions are usually noticeable at the scene of an accident or within a few hours of a collision. They occur mostly in the hands, face, hips, legs, knees, and feet.
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Traumatic Brain Injury
If you hit your head during an auto accident, you’re likely to be in pain. You may feel discomfort or a throbbing headache. On some occasions, you may have severe or intense pain. Traumatic brain injuries are life-threatening and should always be treated as such.
According to the CDC, there were over 64,000 TBI-related deaths in the United States in 2020. Consult your doctor if you believe you’ve hit your head after an auto accident.
Ways to Deal With Soreness and Pain After an Auto Accident
After an accident, muscle aches, pains, and soreness are common. You may want to seek immediate relief for this discomfort. Below are some ways you can deal with pain after an auto accident.
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Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident
Not all injuries sustained in a car collision are easily noticeable. Concussions, whiplash, and spine injuries can cause pain and symptoms that take hours, days, or even weeks to manifest. The longer you wait to seek medical attention, the more likely your injuries will worsen, necessitating a lengthier healing period.
Accident injuries such as whiplash and spinal injury, if left untreated, can lead to chronic pain in the future. Concussions or internal bleeding, if untreated, can be fatal or result in irreversible brain damage.
See a doctor for a checkup even if you aren’t in pain after an auto accident. Internal bleeding, edema, fractures, and soft tissue damage can be checked.
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Follow Your Prescribed Treatment Plan
The treatment process may take a long period. Following the treatment plan advised by your doctor is the most effective way you can ensure complete recovery in a short time. This may include taking time off work and limiting normal activities.
Take all your prescribed medications, participate in physical therapy and attend follow-up appointments. If you think some of your treatment plans are not effective, don’t just abandon the plan. Instead, talk to your doctor about other more effective treatment options.
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Eat a Healthy Diet and Keep Yourself Hydrated
A healthy diet can help you stay on track with the healing process. Your body requires full, fresh foods high in vitamins and protein to recuperate faster. Even when you’re in a lot of pain, try to eat regular, healthful meals. Food helps the body function correctly, and the right diet will make you feel stronger and more energetic.
Water is highly beneficial in general. Muscles that aren’t adequately hydrated can’t perform effectively, resulting in tightness and cramping. Injuries stress the muscles, and the extra fluid prevents them from constricting and becoming more painful and aids in faster healing.
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Rest Adequately
The importance of sleep and rest in the recovery process cannot be overstated. Blood flows to your muscles when you sleep, allowing tissue and muscle repair and growth. Additionally, as you sleep, your body’s stress hormone levels drop, which might help lower internal inflammation.
It’s critical to slow down and frequently rest after an accident that results in a serious injury so that your body can heal. Recognize your limits and avoid pushing yourself too hard or too soon. You run the danger of further harming yourself if you try to “push through” major automobile accident injuries.
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A Good Support System
Surround yourself with people who can help you heal, such as friends and family. A good support system can help you feel better and motivate you to stick to your treatment plan. Friends and family members can help you with daily activities and transport you to and from appointments, depending on your injuries.
Do You Need Medical Treatment?
Injuries in car accidents may result in injuries or lead to death. If you’re in pain, you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Contact our injury care center in Spartanburg to schedule an appointment.
