If you’ve been in a car accident, you may notice that some injuries take longer to heal than others.
Healing takes time. You can’t expect to bounce back a few days after a bone fracture. You need to let your body recover and nurture it before you can return to your usual activities.
If you’ve been in a car accident, you may notice that some injuries take longer to heal than others. For example, you may recover from a shoulder fracture in a few weeks while it may take months to manage soft tissue pain, such as whiplash.
Here is a list of some of the car crash injuries that take the longest to heal.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
The human brain is remarkably complex. It ensures that every cell in your body performs its destined function, and it does it with mathematical precision. So, when you suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI, ) your brain essentially has to “rewire” itself.
Not only that it has to remove dead brain cells from the body, but the remaining neurons have to adapt and learn new functions. It’s a slow process that can take many months or even years to see significant improvements. A lot of TBI patients have to re-learn how to speak, walk, write, and perform mundane activities.
If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury after a car crash, you will benefit from the help of an experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney. These injuries take time to heal and require enormous resources. It is therefore only fair that the at-fault party pays for your pain and suffering.
Spine and Back Injuries
Another common and often severe type of injury during a car crash can occur to the spine or neck. The problem with these types of injuries is that surgery isn’t always enough to fix them. Patients need additional therapy too, such as physical therapy and massage therapy, and that can add to the cost and emotional distress. Not to mention, the pain is often intense and can affect one’s quality of life.
Joint Injuries
Extreme forces pull and push your body during a crash. This tremendous pressure can hurt your joints cause you to experience knee or shoulder pain. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require extensive medical investigations and treatment, such as MRIs to see the extent of the damage, physical therapy, pain management or even surgery.
7 Signs You May Not Be Healing From Your Car Accident
The weeks following a car accident can be a blur. You may be dealing with insurance companies, car repairs, doctor’s appointments, and missing work. With so much going on, it can be difficult to keep track of everything and know what is normal. You may not even know if you’re healing correctly. Here are seven red flags that suggest you’re not healing from your car accident:
You’re Still in Pain
While it’s normal to feel some residual pain and soreness after a car accident, you should generally be feeling significantly better within a few weeks or months. If you’re still in pain and discomfort months later, it could be a sign that your body is not healing properly.
You’re Having Trouble Sleeping
If you’re still waking up in the middle of the night months after your accident, that’s a sign that something is wrong. Maybe you’re reliving the accident in your nightmares, or you’re just so anxious that you can’t relax enough to fall asleep. Either way, it’s likely time to talk to your doctor about it.
You’re Not Back to Your Old Self
If you find that you’re more irritable, forgetful, or more easily overwhelmed than you used to be, that could be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s nothing to be ashamed of – PTSD is a common reaction to trauma – but it is something that you should get help for.
You’re Feeling Numbed Out or Detached from Your Emotions
It’s common to feel numb or detached after a traumatic event like a car accident. And for a good reason – your brain is trying to protect you from feeling the full force of the emotional pain. But if you find that you’re still numbed out or detached weeks or even months after the accident, it could be a sign that you’re not fully healing.
You’re Avoiding Activities You Used to Enjoy
Maybe you used to love going for long walks, but now even the thought of leaving the house makes you anxious. Or perhaps you used to be an avid runner, but now even a short jog feels like too much. If you’re steering clear of activities you once enjoyed, it could be a sign that you’re not yet ready to face the outside world.
You Can’t Stop Talking About the Accident
It’s natural to want to process a traumatic event by talking about it. But if you find yourself rehashing the details of the accident on a daily basis, it may be a sign that you’re stuck in a loop of fear and anxiety.
You’re Drinking or Using Drugs More Than You’d Like to Admit
A drink here and there is one thing, but if you find yourself drinking yourself silly or popping pills every few hours just to get through the day, that’s a red flag that you’re numbing yourself to painful emotions instead of dealing with them head-on
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to talk to your doctor or a therapist who can help you get back on the road to recovery.
A St. Louis Car Lawyer Can Help You Get Justice
A complex injury will likely require numerous hospital visits and intense treatment. If you’ve also lost the ability to work while recovering from your injury, then you may be wondering if you can afford to pay for your treatment. If you weren’t at fault for the accident, you shouldn’t have to. The at-fault party should be held responsible for the damage it inflicted on you. However, you can be sure the insurance companies will be looking for every opportunity to deny or reduce the amount they have to pay you.
This is why it is extremely important to have an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer on your side. They can fight for you and make sure you receive just compensation while you focus on your recovery. Give us a call today at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE consultation.