Written by CrashMD staff
In a perfect situation, you would never be in a car accident. Unfortunately, most people will be involved in a car accident at some point in their life. So the next best option would be to have no injuries, or very minor injuries. If that’s the case, then hopefully the injuries resolve themselves quickly with at-home care. Then, there is the chance that the injuries you endured turn into chronic pain. This could happen for a variety of reasons, possibly because you suffered nerve damage from the accident, sprains or strains, inflammation, or even the discs in your spine slipped or bulged out of place due to the impact of the accident.
In some cases, even when the pain symptoms and underlying cause of pain have successfully been treated, there is everlasting damage. In such cases, the brain is still receiving pain messages from the areas of the body that suffered injuries, even though the injury has been treated. The best way to find relief from chronic pain is to partner with a trained pain management specialist who can create a customized, multi-step approach to help you finally experience prolonged pain relief.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is a long-term pain condition that lasts longer than the typical recovery period for that specific injury or health condition. The feelings of pain vary from person to person, but most patients report feelings of tingling, burning, aching or numbness. Pain can also be felt continuously, or it can come and go depending on the person’s movements.
Chronic pain can also be targeted to just one part of the body, or it can be widespread. It can be caused by inflammation, damage to the nervous systems, or certain health conditions. It is not as common as acute pain, which is felt for a shorter period of time and attributed directly to an injury or event, but it can be more challenging to treat, especially if the person is experiencing pain as a result of a car accident.
But how would a person know they’re experiencing chronic pain? There are a few ways to determine if you’re suffering from chronic pain, and include:
- Pain that hasn’t improved with time or medication
- Pain that worsens while performing daily activities
- Pain that keeps you up at night
- Decreased quality of life
- Limited range of motion or mobility
- Tingling, burning or numbness sensations
The best way is to seek professional help, especially if the pain is due to an injury from a car accident. Treatment isn’t always a simple process (but that’s always the goal!), and a pain management specialist will be able to recommend the most effective and minimally-invasive treatment options first.
The most common causes of chronic pain after a car accident are a result of:
- Whiplash/neck strain: when your head whips back and forth suddenly
- Back pain: possibly from herniated or slipped discs
- Headaches: from the head hitting an object in the car
- Joint pain: damage to the joint from an injury or trauma
- Nerve damage: resulting in incorrect signals being sent to the brain, which is often difficult to accurately diagnose and treat
- Scar tissue: the buildup of collagen could lead to nerve damage, tightness or inflammation
- Muscle tension: common in the neck, shoulder and lower back
- Disc slips: leading to lower back pain
- Fractures: broken bones from the impact of the car crash
While it’s common to have a headache after a car accident, or sore muscles, it’s not healthy to have these conditions for weeks or even months after the accident. If you have constant pain that just isn’t going away, it’s time to see a pain management specialist. Not only will they be able to recommend minimally-invasive treatment options to help with your current pain symptoms, they can also identify any budding issues that could lead to more pain in the coming months or years.
It’s also important to note that treatment is generally less invasive the sooner you begin, which is the goal with any pain management specialist. It’s a much better option to enjoy physical therapy for a few months then have to opt for additional therapies like surgeries. Not only is it a more expensive option, it also poses a greater chance of complications and recovery periods. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and that is true with treating chronic pain from a car accident. The last thing you want to have to deal with is pain for the rest of your life, and there is no reason to!
Treatments for Chronic Pain After a Car Accident
Car accidents are temporary, but unfortunately the effects of the accident can leave lingering painful symptoms. The good news is that there are several ways to enjoy long-term pain management. The most common treatments for chronic pain after a car accident include:
- Medication: over-the-counter and prescription medication can help to both alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. Taking medicine also allows a patient to more comfortably enjoy other treatment methods, such as physical therapy.
- Physical therapy: a trained physical therapist is able to design specific exercises for your pain symptoms, with the goal to improve muscle strength, flexibility and range of motion.
- Alternative therapies: chiropractic care and acupuncture are helpful tools for realigning the body and treating pain by stimulating the nervous system
- Occupational therapy: this therapy options helps patients to regain independence and cope with the effects of a car accident on their daily lives by helping to regain fine motor skills and focus on mental health, as well as other factors
- Injection therapy: injecting a combination of anesthetic and corticosteroid into the affected area, say the knee or shoulder, helps to both provide immediate pain relief as well as reduce inflammation
- Neuromodulation therapy: using mild electrical current has proven helpful for preventing pain sensations from being sent to and received by the brain, thereby reducing a person’s perception of pain
All of these options are minimally-invasive therapies that have proven helpful for providing long-term pain management after a car accident. The best way to determine which option is right for you is to reach out to a pain management specialist. Often, they will be able to recommend a pain management program specifically for you, which could include a combination of medication, physical therapy, counseling and possibly an injection.
Post-Car Accident Chronic Pain Tips
Being involved in a car accident is a frightening situation. Living with the aftermath of it doesn’t have to be. It is important to note that early intervention is key for avoiding and/or treating chronic pain. It is always recommended to seek professional care after a car accident because there are some issues that might not be causing pain, but will in the following days. It’s important to both treat issues that are felt now, as well as identify potential injuries and begin treatment before the pain gets worse and more problematic. Timing is everything!
It’s also important to place your trust in a caring and understanding pain management specialist who will take the time to fully understand your symptoms. They might ask questions such as:
- What does that pain feel like?
- When during the day do you feel pain?
- Does the pain keep you from enjoying daily activities?
- Does the pain keep you up at night?
- Is the pain getting worse?
- Is the pain constant, or does it come and go?
In addition to receiving medical attention, it’s also important to ensure that you’re focusing on diet and nutrition so that you’re giving your body the best shot at healing fully. Proper exercise, focusing on stress management/mental health, sleeping enough, and eating the right foods will best help your journey back to a pain-free life.
Stress management is also a helpful tool for patients who have endured a car accident. Yoga, meditation and breathing techniques can not only help your mind, but can also help you enjoy treatment therapies more comfortably. Biofeedback is another great tool that is helpful for patients experiencing chronic pain. By learning how to manage some of the body’s processes, such as controlling the heart rate and relaxing muscles, you can effectively treat chronic pain, migraines and headaches.
If you believe you are suffering from chronic pain after a car accident and would like relief, please reach out to the CrashMD team today. Our dedicated team can help provide long-term pain relief through proven pain management therapies that will be customized for your specific injuries and symptoms.
Our goal is to help our patients put the pain associated with their car accident behind them, as well as help them achieve their pre-accident quality of life. There are a variety of ways that we can not only help you find pain relief, but we can partner with you to teach you the best ways to care for your body and prevent future injuries. We want to help you enjoy your best quality of life for the long run, and believe that pain free living should start immediately! Please schedule an appointment today so that we can partner together on your pain relief journey.
