Understanding the Debilitating Effects of Chronic Pain from a Car Accident
Understanding the Debilitating Effects of Chronic Pain from a Car Accident
When a person is injured in a car accident, they hope to recover in a reasonable amount of time. For some with extensive injuries, the healing process can take weeks or even months. However, there are some victims who never fully recover from the effects of the accident. They will suffer from pain for the rest of their lives.
Defining Chronic Pain
This type of pain may be categorized as pain that lasts longer than six months. It can stem from a variety of medical conditions, and it usually affects a person’s ability to perform certain tasks or enjoy activities. There is usually no cure for pain caused by serious vehicle accidents. It can only be managed.
Some of the symptoms or results include the following:
- Inability to sleep or poor quality of sleep
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Mood changes
- Changes in personality
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Irritability
- Feeling hopeless or afraid
- Withdraws from family and friends
- Poor immunity to other medical conditions, such as colds and flu
Managing Chronic Pain
In many cases, a doctor cannot discover the specific cause of the pain. They may perform numerous tests and prescribe multiple treatments in an attempt to stop it. When no solutions work, it is common for people, including medical professionals to say the pain isn’t real. However, the person who is suffering knows the pain is real, and the denial from others makes them feel even more alone.
You may have to see multiple doctors, including pain specialists before you can find someone who will develop a management program that can help you find relief. Often, part of the treatment plan will be dealing with the emotional and mental side effects. You may need to take medication for depression and anxiety to help you cope.
While the goal is to reduce pain through medication, therapy, and other treatments, pain management may also include adjusting your activities to accommodate the restrictions the pain causes. You may require assistance with certain daily tasks through in-home health care or assistive devices.
Compensation for Pain
When pain is caused by a car accident, you will need to get a diagnosis from the doctor to be included in your claim. Your attorney may advise you to seek compensation for such suffering, which will account for the lost ability to enjoy certain activities or perform certain tasks. This may even prevent you from being able to go back to your job. For instance, if your pain prevents you from being able to stand for long, you may not be able to work at a cash register or in a factory where you are required to stand for hours.
In a settlement, your pain might mean that you must seek out compensation for lost wages and pain and suffering. You may also be entitled to receive benefits for loss of companionship.
This type of pain is difficult to diagnose and even harder to treat, but you cannot give up seeking medical care.