3 Ways to Deal With Chronic Pain After a Car Accident
Chronic Pain After a Car Accident
Every car wreck is unique, and so is every victim’s recovery. Some people have a straightforward path back to their pre-crash level of health and wellness, but some victims experience chronic pain that lingers for months or even years after a wreck.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain after a car accident, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Many car accident victims find themselves in the same situation. In this article, we’ll explain what chronic pain is and talk about some of the options that can help you deal with its effects.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Medical professionals generally place physical pain into two different categories: acute and chronic.
- Acute pain is sharp or sudden pain that lessens over time. You might feel acute pain when you suffer an injury or get sick.
- Chronic pain is persistent pain that lasts for an indefinite amount of time and doesn’t improve on its own.
Doctors and scientists are still trying to understand the nature of chronic pain and why it persists. In some cases, chronic pain lingers long after any detectable physical injuries have healed. Although more research is being done, no credible medical professional doubts that chronic pain is a real phenomenon. All leading medical organizations and associations categorize chronic pain as a medical condition that can exist independent of any other.
Some of the most current scientific research related to chronic pain indicates that exposure to long-term pain creates physical and chemical changes in a person’s brain. The brain becomes so conditioned to sending pain signals that it continues to do so even after the initial injury or illness that started those signals has healed. In other words, pain creates more pain in a vicious cycle that’s difficult to stop.
Chronic pain in your body can also affect your family and others around you, including your friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. Constantly experiencing pain can lead to depression, withdrawal, and irritability towards those around you. These effects can further impact your quality of life.
RELATED ARTICLE: 6 Critical Steps After a Car Accident
“I wanted to thank you. I know it takes a lot to put together a case. After the first time meeting with you, you remembered our information, barely referring to your notes and continued to do so. You were generous with your thoughts and ideas as to how we could get what we were hoping for and it's so appreciated. We couldn't have gotten the verdict yesterday without you....It really does make a difference that you seem to care.”
“I went to another law firm and they turned me down…would not take my case. Myers Law Firm met with me, handled my case and would not back down from insurance company. Even when they had to file suit to protect me for my personal injury and property damage. I received a very fair settlement. Mr. Myers I appreciate you and your staff.”
“Mr. Lee-Thanks to you and Bessie for all of your help last year and most recently with the referral. I sold the house and the kids and I moved 8 days before Christmas. God is good, faithful and true.”
Let us help you.
SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATIONWhat Can I Do About My Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain can make you feel powerless, but there’s always something you can do to take control of the situation and begin managing your pain. To start, here are three options that may be able to provide some relief.
- Talk to Your Doctor About Your Pain
If you’re suffering from chronic pain, you may have already spoken to your doctor about what you’re going through. However, if you’ve avoided bringing up your pain so far, you should talk to your doctor openly and honestly about your symptoms. You don’t need to worry about your doctor not believing you or getting frustrated. Chronic pain is a well-documented medical condition, and your doctor will almost certainly have experience dealing with people who suffer from chronic pain.If your doctor doesn’t have answers or immediate ideas for treatment, they should be able to refer you to a pain specialist who can help. Your doctor or specialist may prescribe a combination of treatments, which could include medication, physical therapy, and other types of therapy.And if you do speak to your doctor and they ignore or dismiss your claims, you should get a second opinion from another medical professional. This type of response to a chronic pain victim’s symptoms isn’t normal or acceptable from a medical professional. - Explore Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain
Pain is a complex experience, and finding treatments for it is a highly individual process. In addition to traditional treatment options like medication and physical therapy, you may want to talk with your doctor about alternative treatments. Some chronic pain sufferers have experienced relief from psychological counseling, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, and certain types of exercise.While these alternative treatments don’t necessarily take the place of traditional solutions like prescription drugs, they can provide a powerful complement. In fact, many leading medical experts who study pain and pain relief believe that a multi-pronged approach combining traditional therapies with alternative treatments may be the most effective way to treat chronic pain. - Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
While an attorney won’t be able to help your pain from a physical standpoint, every chronic pain sufferer knows that the effects of pain go beyond bodily discomfort. Many chronic pain victims visit doctor after doctor searching for answers and relief, and the medical bills from this search mount up quickly. In addition, victims may miss time at work (leading to lost wages), and they often have to forego family functions, vacations, and favorite hobbies, all of which affects their quality of life.If chronic pain from a car wreck has created financial stress and lowered your quality of life, an attorney may be able to help you file a personal injury claim and receive compensation that can address these costs and losses. While a claim or lawsuit won’t make your pain go away, it can provide relief from financial stress so you can focus on what matters most: your health and well-being.
Contact Myers Law Firm for Help if You’ve Been Hurt in a Car Crash in Charlotte, North Carolina
If you’re suffering from chronic pain or other injuries after a car wreck due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve justice and compensation for your losses, and the team at Myers Law Firm is here to help. At Myers Law Firm, we use our years of experience and our knowledge of local courts to fight for justice on behalf of auto accident victims throughout Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
We offer free initial consultations for all personal injury cases. During this time, we’ll listen to your story and provide you with expert advice about your best course of action, all at no financial risk to you. And we handle injury cases on a “no recovery, no fee” basis, so you’ll never have to worry about how to pay for our services.
To schedule your free consultation and talk with an experienced personal injury lawyer today, please complete our online form or call 888-376-2889.
References
Understanding pain. (2016, July 26). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/understanding-pain/art-20208632
Chronic pain treatment options. (n.d.). Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain/chronic-pain-treatment-options
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
Contact Myers Law Firm
We are committed to continuing to serve our clients’ legal needs
Single Divider
We are able to meet with clients and hold consultations with prospective clients via telephone or video conference. If you need to contact us, please do not hesitate; we are happy to speak with you about your situation, your needs, and how we can help.