Chronic pain can last for months or even longer and is a common condition after a trucking accident. Patients who are in trucking accidents in Hollywood and other Florida cities often sustain serious injuries, such as back injuries, head trauma, whiplash, herniated discs, crushing injuries, or fractures. For some, these injuries eventually get better. For others, however, these conditions lead to chronic, persistent pain.
If you have been injured in a truck accident anywhere in South Florida, contact Flaxman Law Group for a legal evaluation of your situation. If you cannot return to work or normal activities because of your injuries, you deserve to know what legal options you have for pursuing compensation.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain occurs as a result of injuries or illness and is usually defined as serious pain that lasts for 12 weeks or longer. In some cases, this type of pain can last for many months or can even be permanent. Chronic pain can be caused by muscle spasms, tension, inflammation, and other harder-to-diagnose situations, so many patients get frustrated and upset because getting diagnosis and treatment for this condition can be difficult.
Chronic pain can be serious enough to make mobility difficult. Many patients have trouble getting out of bed, going to work, or doing everyday tasks (such as cooking or cleaning) because the pain is so intense. The pain lasts so long and is so serious that many patients develop additional symptoms with chronic. Some may experience:
- PTSD
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Changes in appetite
- Depression, anxiety, or mood swings
How Can I Treat Chronic Pain After my Florida Car Accident or Truck Accident?
Once chronic pain is diagnosed, doctors may recommend some form of treatment to help manage the pain. This can include medication, relaxation techniques, chiropractic treatment, and alternative treatments. Unfortunately, some alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, may bring relief but are not always covered by insurance, which is one reason why car accident patients may want to consult with an attorney if they’ve been injured.
Since doctors may not be able to pinpoint the cause of chronic pain, treatment may need to continue and patients may need to learn to manage their pain possibly for the rest of their lives. Some doctors send patients to therapists or counselors so patients can learn self-management of their condition. Again, patients may need to seek legal advice and compensation so that they can afford this type of treatment.
If you have been injured in a car accident, chronic pain may not develop until weeks after your initial injury. This can make the injury even more frustrating; by the time you realize you need treatment you may have already accepted an insurance offer that does not cover the entire cost of your treatment. Unfortunately, this happens to many chronic pain patients every year. They settle their car accident claim only to realize that their medical situation is more complicated and more expensive than they thought. By that point, their options may be limited.
The time to pursue compensation and legal advice is immediately following an injury or accident. If you’ve been injured in a car accident or truck accident anywhere in South Florida, contact Flaxman Law Group at once. Our staff will work quickly and efficiently, offering you a free accident consultation so that you can learn exactly what steps you need to take to protect yourself. Your consultation with us is free, so contact our law firm if you have been injured.