Car Accident Injuries And Chronic Pain

What Is Chronic Pain Syndrome After A Car Accident?

Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that persists for longer than three months. You might experience it at all times, or it could come and go. Following a car accident, chronic pain could begin as simple stiffness or discomfort that doesn’t seem to improve as the days pass. Over time, it can become its own condition.

Chronic pain syndrome causes more than just pain. You can experience severe fatigue, depression, anxiety, and reduced mobility. The exact reason why some injuries cause victims to develop chronic pain still isn’t understood, but scientists believe it could be a result of central sensitization, which causes the brain to overreact to sensory signals.

Which Car Accident Injuries Most Often Lead To Chronic Pain?

The car accident injuries most likely to result in chronic pain are those that involve nerve and soft tissue damage. If there’s any delay in getting treatment, it can increase the chances of chronic pain developing.

Whiplash and other neck injuries can strain muscles and ligaments, potentially producing pain that doesn’t fade over time. Mild traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, can also impact the pain center in the brain.

If you suffer from pinched nerves around your spinal cord, you could experience pain that comes and goes for months. Additionally, any injury that doesn’t fully heal can result in ongoing discomfort.

In some cases, psychological trauma, like the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder after a collision, can make physical pain worse. 

How Long-Term Pain Affects Daily Life And Mobility

Chronic pain has a significant impact on mobility. You might develop a slow and unsteady gait and have trouble climbing stairs or bending over. This can rapidly result in muscle weakness, making movement more difficult.

If the pain is severe enough, even simple tasks like bathing or dressing can become next to impossible. You may have to rely on someone to assist you, sacrificing your independence. Chronic pain can even impact your appetite, leading to weight loss or weight gain.

Your mental health may take a hit, too. The fear of experiencing more pain can lead to anxiety and depression, causing your quality of life to suffer. You may also not be able to socialize as much as you’d like, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

To make matters worse, you may not be able to work, resulting in lower earnings. At the same time, your medical expenses will likely be much higher. All of this can result in significant financial strain.

When Chronic Pain Becomes A Disability

Chronic pain becomes a disability when it doesn’t permit you to earn a living and support yourself. To qualify as such, it must create problems with your daily functioning, limiting your ability to perform the tasks that you would be called on to do at work.

Treatment Options For Chronic Pain After A Crash

If you’ve developed chronic pain after a car accident, there are a few different approaches that could be useful in treating the condition. Medication may be an option, along with physical therapy and chiropractic care. In severe cases, nerve blocks could also offer relief. Massage therapy is a non-invasive way to ease tension, boost circulation, and release natural endorphins to alleviate pain. Additionally, cognitive-behavioral therapy could also assist you in learning how to live with chronic pain.

How Doctors Diagnose Chronic Pain

Diagnosing chronic pain after car accidents isn’t a simple process. Your symptoms won’t necessarily show up in imaging studies or other tests. To understand what you’re going through, medical providers will ask you detailed questions about what you feel. They may also perform neurological exams and blood tests to rule out other conditions.

Why Some Injuries Don’t Heal Fully

If your natural healing process is disrupted for any reason, the injuries you sustained in your accident may not heal properly.

This can be an issue if you develop infections or the impacted area doesn’t receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Compartment syndrome, for example, causes so much swelling and pressure that blood can no longer reach the damaged area.

Sufficient nerve damage and inflammation could also alter your nervous system, leaving it hypersensitive. Even if the wound eventually heals, you might still receive pain signals from the area.

When To Contact A Car Accident Attorney For Chronic Pain Claims

It’s not easy to obtain fair compensation for chronic pain from car accident settlements.

Because there may not be enough evidence to clearly show that you’re experiencing this unending condition, insurers may try to claim that you’re malingering or exaggerating. If you attempt to go through the process alone, you could end up with a much smaller settlement than you deserve.

If you’re dealing with chronic pain after a car accident and are worried about insurers not taking your symptoms seriously, the best thing you can do is to contact an attorney.

How Bachus & Schanker Helps Victims With Long-Term Pain

At Bachus & Schanker, we understand how traumatic being in an auto accident can be. Several members of our team have lived through catastrophic injuries and losses themselves, making us the legal professionals to trust with the most complex cases.

We can investigate your accident and gather evidence that conveys what you’re going through. Since we routinely work with medical professionals, we can solicit corroborating evidence on the severity of chronic pain and how it has impacted your life. Above all, we know how to negotiate with insurers to pursue fair compensation.

You don’t have to go through this alone.

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