Chronic Pain: A Lingering Consequence of Traffic Accidents

July 22, 2011

After the dust clears, the cars have been fixed and the insurance claims have been settled, most victims of traffic accidents assume that life will get back to normal. For some, however, the trauma of the accident triggers a persistent pain that never goes away. This type of pain is known as chronic pain, and it can last for weeks, months or even years.

Chronic pain is a persistent pain that lasts long after the incident that triggers it. Someone suffering from chronic pain is constantly uncomfortable, and if the pain lingers, it can cause mental and emotional side effects like depression and anger. Common symptoms of chronic pain include persistent headaches, lower back pain, or pains related to other diseases such as cancer or arthritis. Doctors believe that chronic pain may be related to other pain diagnoses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and inflammatory bowel disease.

Although chronic pain may appear seemingly out of thin air, many times the pain presents after an injury like a sprain, fracture or infection has occurred. Recently, Gareth Jones of the University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry in Scotland and fellow researchers found that people are more likely to experience chronic pain after a traumatic event such as a car crash.

The researchers interviewed more than 2,000 people with musculoskeletal pain and asked them if they had recently been involved in a traffic crash, a workplace accident or had surgery. People who reported being involved in traffic crashes were 84 percent more likely to develop chronic pain. The researchers also found that, of those interviewed who reported new pain, 75 percent had been involved in one of these traumatic events around the same time that the pain began.

Fortunately, there are several things people can do after an accident to prevent the onset of chronic pain. Immediately after an incident, take several minutes to "ask" one's body where it hurts and take note of any aches and pains. Keep monitoring the body for new tenderness or pain for the next few days. Most important, schedule a doctor's appointment -- even if there does not seem to be any injury. A doctor's evaluation may uncover hidden sprains or fractures that may not be immediately painful as well as identify parts of the body that may need to be realigned.

Living with chronic pain can be discouraging, but it may be prevented if you are proactive after a traffic incident. Also, new treatments for chronic pain are making it easier to live with the condition. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with chronic pain as a result of a traffic accident, seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss any legal claims you may have.

Article provided by Law Office of Julie Johnson, PLLC
Visit us at www.juliejohnsonlaw.com