If you've suffered a serious accident, such as a car wreck or a fall, you may find that your suffering doesn't end once the injury is supposedly healed. In fact, some injuries can linger for years. Managing the long-term impact of a serious injury is crucial to your quality of life.
Head Injuries
Even a mild head injury can lead to serious complications over time. It's critical that you consult a doctor if you suffer a head injury such as a mild TBI. Mild TBI is a closed head injury that creates either a loss of consciousness or disorientation that lasts less than 30 minutes. However, if you're not properly diagnosed or given time to heal, or if you're not properly prepared for the symptoms that may linger after such an event, the results can be catastrophic.
A more severe long-term effect is that a traumatic brain injury increases the likelihood of suicide. You may suffer from anxiety, headaches or light sensitivity. Some TBI sufferers find that loud noises are very disruptive or that their moods are hard to control. If you have an accident that includes a concussion, seek medical help.
Back Injuries
Many people who are involved in car accidents can suffer the back or neck injury known as whiplash. This is caused by your head being jolted back and forth. You may find that your arms and hands go numb, or that you have a great deal of shoulder pain. Each occurrence of whiplash is different, but getting properly diagnosed is key as is receiving proper care.
It's more than back pain. Spinal injuries can lead to irritability, mood swings, anxiety, isolation, and even depression. Chronic pain is terribly disruptive to your quality of life, so be sure to seek proper medical care if you suffer a back injury that lingers or seems to grow more painful over time.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries include sprains, ligament tears or damage to muscle tissues. If you've been in an accident and have pain that doesn't fade after a few days, severe bruising or limited movement, you may have suffered a soft tissue injury that you weren't aware of at the time of the accident. While these may sound like simple injuries to heal, severe soft tissue injuries can lead to a buildup of scar tissue at the site of the injury.
This tough and fibrous tissue can irritate nerves nearby and actually leave you in more pain than you suffered during the healing process. Carefully monitor your pain levels after an injury to make sure that you've not suffered a serious soft tissue injury. If you have a joint or area of your body that doesn't seem to be healing, seek additional medical care.
Accidents can happen to anyone, anywhere. Active, busy people often think they can push through these events to try to get back to normal living. However, head injuries, spinal injuries, and soft tissue injuries can lead to life-limiting levels of pain. If you're hurting, seek additional medical help and don't give up until you're confident your diagnosis is accurate.
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