Managing Pain After a Car Accident

If you’re involved in a car accident, it can leave you scarred - not just physically, but mentally. Following the wreck, there will often be a period of recovery, especially if you were seriously injured.

Auto accidents are unexpected and can happen to anyone, anytime. Understanding how to manage pain after a wreck is important, and it’s crucial to focus on both physiological AND psychological aspects.

Managing Physical Symptoms From a Car Accident

The first thing you’ll notice after a car accident is physical pain. The amount of pain and complications you experience depends on the severity of the accident. Even with accidents that are not very serious, you may still develop some issues such as neck pain and/or back pain.

There are strategies you can use to effectively manage these physiological symptoms at home. If the injuries are severe, however, you’ll need to be treated at an emergency room and possibly be admitted to a hospital.

Once you get home, you can follow these tips to help you cope with the pain:

• Rest is incredibly important, as it gives your body time to recuperate and recover. Try not to overdo it. If you need to attend to chores around the house, ask a family member or friend to help.
• Take over-the-counter drugs if you were not provided a prescription to reduce pain symptoms. An injury like this can often also result in inflammation. Thus, it’s a good idea to consider a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug. This type of medication can help with both swelling and pain. Ibuprofen is a good choice that does not have the same negative effects as opioids.
• Monitor your progress and report to your doctor on a regular basis. If your symptoms aren’t improving, then you may need to go for more tests or get different medications to assist with the recovery process.

If you have any open wounds, then it’s important to clean them regularly. Ask your healthcare provider for tips on how to clean and dress any wounds.

Coping With Psychological Symptoms

Let’s face it - when you’re involved in a serious car accident, it might leave you with psychological complications too. Some people develop what is known as "post-traumatic stress disorder." This type of disorder can result in anxiety, depression, and other mental health symptoms. Getting into a car can trigger these emotions and feelings, but the specific triggers tend to differ from one person to the next.

While it’s not pain in the same way you can feel when you’ve hurt your arm or leg, it’s still painful to go through these emotions or relive the events in your mind. Understanding how you can cope with the psychological symptoms is also important.

Find relaxation techniques that work for you. This could include meditation, yoga, listening to music, or doing something else to distract your mind. You can also try deep breathing exercises whenever you feel anxious, as they may help to calm you down.

Experiment with different strategies to find the ones that work for you. It’s also important to note that help is available, so if you are having a difficult time coping, reach out to a therapist. 

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer to Fight For You

If you’ve been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, then you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence. Whether it was from poor infrastructure, a speeding vehicle, a distracted driver, or manufacturing faults with your vehicle, Bart Durham Injury Law can help you find peace and the compensation you deserve.

Contact the firm to talk with an experienced team member who can help to assess your case and offer advice on what to do next.