Our Atlanta auto accident attorneys know it is challenging to deal with the pain from crash injuries. Pain management can help. Even in a minor car crash, you might still feel some discomfort. Some of the wounds that result in pain are whiplash, head injuries, back injuries, broken bones, etc.
Medical practitioners classify pain as either chronic or acute. The latter happens immediately after an accident, while the former is long-lasting and requires tailored medical interventions, which cost money. So if you suffer injuries from an accident, our Atlanta car accident lawyers at Ted A. Greve and Associates can help you get compensation. But first, let’s discuss essential things you need to know about pain management after an injury.
How Do You Manage Acute Pain?
Acute pain lasts no longer than three months after an injury. Over-the-counter drugs work well for acute pain management, but it also depends on the severity. For example, your doctor might recommend aspirin or acetaminophen for minor acute pain, while a more severe diagnosis may need a prescription-strength medication.
Acute pain often becomes chronic pain depending on the injury suffered. You feel acute pain as long as the underlying cause remains. But once you successfully treat it, it disappears. An excellent example is the pain you get from a whiplash injury.
The most common instances where you feel acute pain are:
- Surgical procedures
- Car accident injuries
- Dental procedures
- Burns
- Labor or childbirth
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain, on the other hand, lasts beyond three months. There are different forms of chronic pain, and they stem not only from injuries. Some medical conditions like arthritis or neurological defects may cause chronic pain. A person suffering from pain would experience significant levels of discomfort. As such, they need the proper pain management techniques or treatments.
A person dealing with chronic pain may need to make lifestyle changes, undergo physical therapy, and be on medication for a long while. Unlike acute pain, chronic pain remains active in the body even after addressing the underlying issue. The pain signals can remain active in the body for weeks, months, or years. Some people deal with chronic pain all their life.
Common causes of chronic pain are:
- Fibromyalgia
- Migraines
- Nerve damage
- Back pain
- Arthritis
- Surgery
Chronic pain results in significant stress on the body. It can lead to other conditions like muscle tension, fatigue, appetite loss, and loss of mobility. Chronic pain also affects a person’s mental health, causing irritability, depression, and anxiety. Thus, it requires a comprehensive pain management plan, including mental health treatment.
How Do You Manage Pain for Certain Injuries?
Following an accident injury, you need to have a tailor-made pain management plan. This is because people’s needs differ, and they also have different medical histories. Below, we look at some classes of injuries and how to effectively manage the pain.
-
Traumatic Injury Pain
This class of injury covers wounds that are physical, severe, and require emergency medical attention. They occur from blunt force trauma in car accidents, workplace accidents, slip and falls, natural disasters, etc. A person with a traumatic injury suffers both physically and emotionally.
Traumatic injury victims suffer both acute and chronic pain, and they are first managed with prescription medication. Your doctor decides the length and dosage of such a drug. In addition to the medication, your doctor would recommend tailored physical therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health therapy.
-
Burn Injury Pain
Some car accidents may end in flames, leaving the car occupants burned. Burn pains are pretty severe, and it is both acute and chronic. One essential pain management technique for burn wounds is staying relaxed and putting as little pressure on the body as possible. In addition, your doctor may recommend natural movements, yoga, and deep breathing exercises.
-
Back Injury Pain
When the back pain from an auto crash lasts longer than three months, it becomes chronic back pain. Usually, over-the-counter drugs are the go-to for managing back injury pain. However, your doctor may also ask you to carry out specific exercises when dealing with chronic back pain. Here, you’ll need to work with a physical therapist, and the activity depends on your injury, age, and overall health. You may also carry out mental relaxation exercises.
Are You in Pain? Let Our Car Accident Attorneys in Atlanta Help You!
Living with pain from an accident injury is quite challenging. It’s worse knowing that someone else’s carelessness caused the crash that injured you. Thankfully, Georgia law allows you to seek compensation, and our Atlanta car accident lawyers can help you. We promise to put your interest first, so call Ted A. Greve and Associates today to book a free consultation.
