Some 3 million Americans were hurt in car accidents last year. Unfortunately, many victims don’t seek treatment right away because they assume the injury will get better on its own. Without treatment, however, lower back, neck, joint, nerve, and other car accident injuries can turn into chronic health issues or could even become disabling. At Quantum Pain & Sports Medicine in Irving, Texas, double board-certified interventional pain management specialist Trung Ha, MD, offers customized multidisciplinary care to get you back to enjoying life fast. The practice is open six days a week for your convenience, so book online or call the office to schedule your consultation now.
What are the most common types of car accident injuries?
Car accident injuries can affect nearly any part of your body, but they most often impact the following areas:
Whiplash: Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained in car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. It occurs when the head and neck are forcefully jerked forward and then whipped back. Symptoms of whiplash can include neck pain, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.
Broken bones: Broken bones are another common injury resulting from car accidents. The bones most commonly broken are the arms, legs, and ribs, but any bone can be broken in a car accident. Symptoms of a broken bone can include swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Head injuries: Head injuries can be particularly severe in car accidents, especially if the head hits the steering wheel or dash. Common head injuries include concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Symptoms of a head injury can include nausea, headaches, confusion, and loss of consciousness.
Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue injuries can include bruises, sprains, and strains. In a car accident, these injuries are caused by the force of impact. While soft tissue injuries are often less serious than other injuries, they can still be very painful and take a long time to heal.
Psychological injuries: It is important to remember that car accidents can cause not only physical but also psychological injuries. For example, people involved in car accidents can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. These injuries can be just as serious as physical injuries and should not be ignored.
Sciatica: Sciatica is an injury in which your sciatic nerve, the longest one in your body, gets compressed. This may happen in an auto accident in which you directly injure the sciatic nerve or suffer a herniated spinal disc that traps your sciatic nerve. Sciatica can cause serious lower back pain, and it may radiate down your leg as well.
Auto accident injuries can cause pain, stiffness, and range-of-motion difficulties in virtually any part of your body, so it’s important to have an evaluation at Quantum Pain & Sports Medicine as soon as possible if you’re involved in an accident.
What happens during my auto accident appointment?
During your evaluation at Quantum Pain & Sports Medicine, the compassionate team discusses your symptoms with you and performs a gentle but comprehensive exam of your spine, neck, and other injured areas.
You may need diagnostic testing like X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to uncover the exact type of damage you suffered in your accident. This precise diagnostic process helps your pain management team develop the ideal recovery plan for you.
How do you treat car accident injuries?
Quantum Pain & Sports Medicine offers personalized pain management solutions for car accident injuries.
Helpful treatments for auto accident injuries include:
- Oral anti-inflammatory medication
- Physical therapy, including strengthening exercises
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Activity modification
- Joint injections
- Nerve injections
- Tendon or ligament injections
- Bursa injections
- Regenerative medicine treatments with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cells
Recovery also depends on what you do at home between treatment sessions. The team recommends customized lifestyle changes to help you recover and regain the same level of function you had before the accident.
You can overcome whiplash, joint pain, muscle pain, and other auto accident pain to feel better than ever with help from Quantum Pain & Sports Medicine. Call the office or visit our contact page to book now.