After a car accident, many people are forced to undergo a recovery period, healing their injuries and “getting back to normal.” But some car accident victims never quite get back to normal, dealing with chronic pain for years and sometimes for the rest of their lives.
How common is chronic pain, and what should you do if you’re experiencing it?
How Common Is Chronic Pain?
First, the good news: chronic pain isn’t exactly common in the aftermath of a car accident. The most common injuries resulting from car accidents are bruises, scrapes, broken bones, whiplash, and short-term back and neck pain.
In serious car accidents, injuries tend to be more severe and may take longer to heal; accordingly, some victims may have to deal with years of recovery and pain. Still, after those years have passed, most people go on to make a full recovery.
That said, chronic pain is also more common than most people realize. As many as 25 percent of American adults experience chronic pain in some form; many of these adults are afflicted with a specific condition that causes chronic pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or a neurogenic disorder. However, many of them experience chronic pain because of old back, neck, or extremity injuries – this means even after your car accident injuries have healed, you could end up dealing with chronic pain extensively in the future.
What to Do After a Car Accident
If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to take immediate action to reduce your susceptibility to chronic pain in the future and make sure you’re adequately compensated for your injuries.
- Get to a hospital. In the aftermath of an accident, it’s a good idea to go to a hospital, even if you don’t feel it’s necessary. Physicians will be able to proactively determine the extent of your injuries and provide you with the best course of action for recovery. They’re also going to create a paper trail that proves how, when, and to what extent you were injured.
- Talk to a lawyer. After your initial medical appointments, talk to a car accident lawyer as soon as you can. Your lawyer will discuss various options with you, providing you with a path to win as much compensation as possible for your injuries. If you are at risk of experiencing chronic pain in the future, you’ll need to fight for compensation to pay for expenses relating to that chronic pain.
- Attend all your follow-up appointments. Make sure to attend all your follow-up appointments, including recommended physical therapy sessions, to reduce your chronic pain and make sure your injuries heal fully.
Managing Chronic Pain
If you do end up dealing with chronic pain, there are several strategies that can help you cope with it.
- Use medications responsibly. Certain medications can help you relieve pain, both in the short term and in the long term. However, it’s important to use medications responsibly. Only use medications recommended by your doctor, and only as directed. If you take certain pain medications too frequently or at doses that are too high, it could end up hurting you or forming a dependence.
- Practice deep breathing and meditation. Deep breathing and meditation serve similar purposes and are sometimes used together to help take your mind off the pain and focus on the present moment. Studies show that practicing meditation can have a positive effect on relieving pain, as well as strengthening your emotional control and reducing your stress. If you’ve never tried meditating before, you should know there’s a bit of a learning curve – but once you master the basics, it can be a tool that serves you for the rest of your life.
- Stay physically active. When you’re in pain, you may not feel like moving; it may seem much more comfortable to just remain in bed. But if you want to take your mind off the pain, stimulate the production of endorphins, and become physically stronger, it’s important to stay physically active. You don’t have to push yourself with a harsh workout, but you should strive to get at least some exercise every day.
- Reduce stress. Stress is shown to make chronic pain worse. Accordingly, you should try to reduce the stress in your life. Don’t push yourself to work too hard, and if you find yourself chronically stressed, consider reducing or eliminating some of the top stressors interfering with your mental wellbeing.
- Find healthy distractions. Finally, find healthy distractions. If you’re fully immersed in a new puzzle, or if you’re socializing with your best friends, you’re probably going to be too mentally occupied to focus on the subtle pain you’re experiencing.
Chronic pain is difficult to deal with, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Additionally, most people, even after experiencing significant injuries, don’t have to deal with chronic pain at all. If you do start experiencing chronic pain, be proactive with your management strategies and try not to let the pain take over your life.