Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
September is Pain Awareness Month, and the International Association on the Study of Pain (IASP) is working to further research and social awareness of this sometimes-debilitating condition. For many people in Homestead and across Florida, chronic pain begins after a serious event such as a car crash.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain refers to any pain which lasts longer than three months. It can occur anywhere on the body and can range from mild to debilitating, but the duration is what matters for this definition. This condition can also cause stiffness in the joints and muscles as well as mobility issues.
Chronic pain can be caused by conditions such as arthritis or by a serious injury such as whiplash or a spinal injury. More research is needed. Pain is usually our body’s response to injury and once an injury heals, the pain diminishes. Researchers believe that in some cases the brain chemicals which halt pain stop working correctly after some serious injuries or illnesses or nerve endings are damaged in such a way that the body continues to transmit information about pain, even where it should not exist. In some cases, doctors simply do not know what causes chronic pain.
Chronic Pain After a Car Crash
Car collisions are a serious medical event which can lead to head injuries, which can impact how the body processes signals from the brain. Car crashes can also cause severe nerve damage and serious emotional upset as well as devastating injuries, and all these factors can contribute to chronic pain.
If you have been in a car collision in Homestead, get medical help immediately. Getting a correct diagnosis and prompt treatment can give you the best chances at recovery. It can also help you reduce the risk of complications, which can increase the chances of pain.
After your collision, track your symptoms carefully, including when any pain occurred and what you were doing when the pain happened. This can help your diagnostic team properly diagnose and treat your pain and can also help you determine if your pain is not going away. If you develop chronic pain, seek out specialists with experience in this specific condition. Chronic pain is not a natural condition and you deserve treatment.
If you have pain after a car collision in Homestead and you are not getting treatment for it, get a second opinion. Since research is still needed into chronic pain, it can take some time to find a healthcare provider who understands the medical needs of patients with this condition.
Treating Chronic Pain
Today, specialists believe in taking a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain. This may involve traditional physical therapy, stress management, occupational therapy, counseling, yoga, nutritional counseling, medication management, and more. The goal is to improve multiple parts of a patient’s life to improve quality of life and to reduce pain.
Of course, ergonomic assessments, pain medication, physical therapy, family counseling, and other services involved in treating chronic pain are expensive. Since so little is still known about chronic pain, it can be hard for patients to get their treatment plan approved by insurers. Since chronic pain is a long-term condition, these treatment options often need to be ongoing, lasting for months or years.
If you have been in a car collision and continue to have chronic pain, pursuing a legal claim can help you seek compensation so you can pay for the medical treatment you need. If you would like to find out whether you may have a claim, reach out to Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a no obligation, free accident consultation with a Homestead traffic accident claims attorney.