Being involved in a motor vehicle collision can result in an array of medical issues, some more apparent than others. While visible bruises and broken bones signify obvious injury, less outward signs like nerve damage occasionally surface due to the inside strain placed on the body.
Understanding how car accidents potentially relate to nerve problems empowers victims to pursue optimum treatment and reimbursement from at-fault drivers.
Whiplash Contributes To Nerve Strain
One of the most widespread injuries arising from rear-end, side-impact, and rollover crashes involves whiplash, the swift neck hyperextension or hyperflexion the body endures upon collision. Whiplash generates intense pressure on surrounding tissues over brief moments, including delicate nerves exiting the spinal cord across the neck.
Even seemingly minor fender benders can cause microscopic rips to the nerve sheath or nearby structures due to violently shifting anatomy. Resulting inflammation contributes to radiating pain, numbness, and tingling down the arms or hands later on.
Compression Injuries Occur Easily
Besides whiplash trauma, any portion of the body forcibly striking the vehicle interior during impact stands susceptible to compression damage worsening with time. Examples include the head colliding with a window/door, hips colliding with the center console, or knees crashing the dashboard unexpectedly.
Deep contusions develop which may compress underlying nerves unnoticeably initially. As swelling subsides, lasting nerve irritation causing muscle weakness or sensitivities can arise at the pressure points affected. Seeking medical help post-accident aids in diagnosing these stealthy nerve injuries before long-term harm ensues.
Herniated Discs Pose Complications
The spinal discs nestled between vertebrae serve as shock absorbers, yet their gelatinous centers can bulge, tear, or rupture under excessive weight or forceful bending incurred during accidents. When discs herniate, they may press against adjacent spinal nerves emerging through small openings along the spine.
Resulting nerve root compression commonly causes pain radiating down an arm and into the fingers or a leg and toes in a dermatomal pattern. Surgical intervention sometimes becomes critical to correct herniated discs impinging nerves chronically without relief. Early disc injuries require an experienced doctor to assess fully.
Trapped Nerves Develop Subtly
Beyond herniated discs, soft tissue injuries like muscle tears or hemorrhaging sustained in crashes may cause surrounding nerves to become compressed or trapped unknowingly. As swelling resolves over the following weeks, mobility restrictions from fibrotic or scarred tissue developed leave nerves immobilized and dysfunctional despite appearing healed externally.
Signs involve abnormal sensations, muscle weakness, or atrophy not proportionate to other injuries noticeable months post-accident. If you or your loved ones get involved in a car accident and sustain nerve injuries, it is important to contact a car accident attorney for compensation.
Lingering Strain Syndrome Persists
Whiplash-associated disorders denote chronic pain and neurophysiological disturbances arising from rear impacts. Even if X-rays show no fractures or dislocations, nerve fibers may suffer tiny microscopic tears difficult to diagnose immediately yet cause disturbances disproportionate to the initial collision.
Symptoms consist primarily of debilitating neck soreness, headaches, dizziness, and sensory changes resisting basic painkillers over the long haul. Targeted physical therapy, injections, and neuropathological treatments assist but symptoms sometimes require years of stabilizing unfortunately.
Diagnosing Swiftly Aids Recovery
Because nerve injuries materialize gradually sometimes, many accident victims ignore symptoms presuming they will heal naturally eventually. Yet prompt neurological evaluation aids in confirming damage extent, recommending suitable treatments, and documenting chronic prognosis impairing victims should legal matters require a car accident attorney down the line.
Electromyography, nerve conduction velocity tests, and MRI studies help locate trapped, stretched, or compressed areas requiring decompression or therapy. Acting quickly sets the course restoring mobility and independence better than hoping complications disappear untreated.
Preventing Lingering Complications
Following any car accident, seeking prompt medical assistance proves wise for potential internal injuries unknown externally. While X-rays detect fractures regularly, neurological exams uncover nerve issues more intangible like fraying or entrapment risking long-term disability.
Instruct doctors regarding even minor accident details aiding diagnosis too. Physical therapy guided by specialists prevents disabling strain syndromes through stretching, modalities, re-education, and injections when required. Record all bills incurred, and document lost wages if unable to work due to accident-caused nerve harm as well, which may factor into potential legal compensation pursuits later as full recovery hopefully arrives.
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