For most people out there, driving may seem like an effortless task. But when you’re behind the wheel, things don’t always go as planned. Accident injuries can occur for a variety of reasons. You might be involved in reckless driving, intoxicated driving, or find yourself amid unsafe driving circumstances, among other things. Regardless of the cause, a vehicle accident can result in various consequences that range in severity. If you have lately had such an experience, you may require treatment. Unfortunately, several people are unaware that some of these ailments progress over time. But thankfully, you can intervene if you know what you’re struggling with and what’s the cause behind it. And now, we will discuss the most common car accident injuries and the appropriate treatment in its follow-up.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Your body may suffer from many different car accident injuries as a result of the severe impact of an accident. Nevertheless, research suggests that the following are the most common car accident injuries.
Traumatic brain injury
When a person receives a blow to the head that whips the head forward and back or side to side (as in a traffic collision), the brain strikes against the bony skull at tremendous speed, causing damage from blunt trauma. The blood arteries in the brain get ruptured, and brain tissue gets destroyed, especially when the interior surface of the skull is rigid and uneven; damage occurs at the impact point. As a result, different brain areas, most notably the temporal and frontal lobes, are impaired. In closed head trauma, the brain’s rapid movement may also tear neural axons (the long threadlike structures that connect neuronal cells in the brain). In the case of an axonal injury, there is a disruption between the brain’s functional connection with various body parts.
Internal injuries
Internal injuries are relatively frequent in road accidents and are one of the most severe forms of trauma. This situation is particularly alarming since there are no clear indicators that an unconscious victim is at risk of dying. Internal injuries are sometimes undetected during a physical examination and require immediate medical treatment. In some cases, internal wounds often reveal themselves many days after an accident patient goes to the hospital.
Whiplash
Do you happen to be a car crash survivor that felt acute neck pain after a car accident? If that is the case, you might be suffering from whiplash. Whiplash is a typical delayed neck problem that develops following an automobile accident, particularly rear-end collisions. As a result, the sufferer may feel headaches at the base of the skull, shoulder discomfort, and a reduction in the neck’s range of motion. And to make matters worse, the pain in the neck may not develop for many days in some circumstances.
Accident burns
When it comes to vehicle collisions, facing critical burns is somewhat typical. It is especially true when it comes to fire or dangerous chemicals. While some burns heal quickly, others require long-term medical care and may result in permanent deformities. Many individuals aren’t aware that some burns from accidents take time to show up. What seems to be a minor first-degree burn at the site of a vehicle accident might become a more concerning problem. This injury aggravation is the result of tissue death, leaving behind nasty blisters.
Back injuries
- Thoracic injury: The thoracic spine injuries are one of, if not the most severe injuries. The thoracic spine connects the ribs to the chest and is sometimes known as the upper back. Sprains and fractures in this area are most likely a cause of high-velocity automobile accidents, which result in permanent nerve damage.
- Lumbar injury: The lumbar spine comprises the top five vertebrae and the toughest musculature that keeps the spine secure. As a result, a lumbar spine sprain or strain can be very excruciating. Ligaments can tear in such a sprain, whereas ligaments, tendons, and muscles face abnormal extension in a lumbar strain.
- Herniated discs: Our backbones have the support of miniature, spongy discs that surround them. If there is too much force applied in a car accident, these discs will split or break. However, they can also bulge sometimes, placing pressure on the nerve roots in the spinal column. A herniated disc can cause pain, tiredness, and numbness throughout your body. The discomfort can occur anywhere on the body, although it is most prevalent in the spine, horizontally and vertically.
Visiting a Doctor
Regardless of the severity of the car collision, emergency care services are essential. Anyone involved in an automobile accident should get their injuries examined as quickly as possible, irrespective of how minor or critical they are. If you don’t get the medical help you need, your situation might get even worse.
Possible Treatment Options
After a complete evaluation of your condition, you may look into treatment options like physical therapy, non-invasive spinal decompression, soft tissue manipulation, laser therapy, chiropractic care, and perhaps surgical treatments.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy might help you recuperate more rapidly after a car accident. It can also aid in the development of muscular strength and range of motion. You may think that you can’t walk again or regain total movement in your arms or wrists. But fortunately, this therapy can help with recovery to the greatest extent possible. For example, if you feel shoulder pain after a car accident, consider going to a physical therapist.
Non-invasive spinal decompression
This non-surgical back and neck stabilization therapy effectively treats a multitude of spinal disc problems and inflammation. Cervical decompression treatment is suitable for many individuals with significant neck discomfort or ruptured discs in the spinal column.
Soft tissue manipulation
Soft tissue therapy is often beneficial for reducing pain, increasing range of motion, and reinforcing musculature. This technique can also help with adhesions that form inside the sensitive tissue from car accident damage.
Laser therapy
For people who went through a severe vehicle accident, laser treatment offers a painless rehabilitation solution. Laser light stimulates circulation by bringing nutrients, oxygen, and water to the damaged region. Stiffness, painful swelling, and tremors undergo reduction as a result of the altered therapeutic factors.
Chiropractic care
This non-invasive therapy from a chiropractor can provide several advantages. With the help of therapeutic physical manipulation, the specialist can minimize inflammation, reduce body pain, restore mobility, and break up sensitive scar tissue.
Surgical procedures
The nature and magnitude of your injuries will determine whether or not you require surgery following a vehicle accident. Some automobile accidents necessitate emergency surgery right away. But for less severe cases, the doctors may first recommend other therapies.
Surgery is a hazardous and painful operation. If the body can recover with less invasive intervention, your doctor will never recommend surgery.
The following are the possible surgical procedures after a car crash:
- Plastic surgery for burns and disfiguration
- Surgical repair of lacerated soft tissue
- Open emergency surgery for internal bleeding
- Surgical alignments like discectomy, laminectomy, vertebroplasty, and spinal fusion
- Bone fragment stabilization surgery
- Brain surgery
Final Thoughts
As a car collision may harm any area of the body, a person may sustain multiple injuries. Any problem that is too serious may necessitate surgery, which might result in long-term repercussions. If you wish to prevent this situation, you can try one of the non-invasive therapies that medical professionals advise. However, irrespective of your circumstance, you have to be patient during the rehabilitation process.
