Pain Management Options After an Accident
An auto accident can leave you in pain for months or even years. Below are several methods to deal with the pain.
At-home Care
Pain management does not always have to involve the doctor. RICE is an age-old pain management technique for minimizing pain at home. The acronym stands for:
- Rest – resting to give your body time to heal and minimize strain on the injury site
- Ice – applying ice on the pain site to dampen inflammation that increases pain
- Compression – wrapping the injury site to deal with swelling that causes pain
- Elevation – elevating the injured body part to reduce blood flow and limit pain
Opt for at-home pain management only after consulting your doctor. Using the RICE method in addition to professional medical treatment can help you to further minimize pain and prevent further injury. Don’t choose the RICE technique as your only pain management method because you won’t be able to prove your pain and its treatment in your auto accident claim.
Medication
The medical industry has multiple pain management medications. The nature, type, and pain level determine the medication to use. For example, over-the-counter pain drugs work relatively well for minor pain. However, you may need stronger drugs, including opioids, muscle relaxants, and steroids, to manage stronger pain. For example, your doctor may administer pain injections in your joints to treat pain and reduce inflammation in the joints.
Only use pain management medication according to your doctor’s advice, and don’t neglect taking your medication. For one, misuse of pain drugs can lead to additional and unintended side effects. Secondly, you need the treatment in your medical records to match up with the treatment you are actually taking in order to claim compensation for your medical damages. In addition, including the treatments in your medical records strengthens your claim.
Bracing
Bracing is a pain management treatment using a material to hold the injured part in place. The treatment stabilizes the injured part and limits its movements that would otherwise aggravate the injury and pain. For example, your doctors may give you a neck brace to hold your neck in place after a whiplash injury.
Again, remember to use your brace as your doctor advises. For example, you should not wear a brace beyond the period prescribed by the doctor. Otherwise, you might develop complications such as skin irritations. The auto accident defendant might not pay for such complications, especially if they have evidence that you ignored your doctor’s advice.
Physiotherapy
Different forms of physiotherapy can also help with pain relief. The benefits come in different ways, depending on the cause and nature of the pain. For example:
- Stretching exercises relax tight muscles and improve blood flow.
- Massage therapy helps blood flow to eliminate toxins and supply oxygen and nutrients to injury sites.
- Strengthening exercises strengthen weak muscles and bones so they can support your body.
Don’t start physical therapy until your doctor advises; otherwise, your injury might worsen. Stick to the physical therapy sessions your doctor approves. Otherwise, the defendant might argue that the extra sessions weren’t for your auto accident treatment and refuse to pay for them.
Complementary and Alternative Medication
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) encompasses treatment techniques that do not have the full backing and evidence from the scientific community. Examples of CAMs include acupuncture, hypnosis, meditation, and Ayurveda, among others.
The insurance industry has not fully embraced CAM, and you might run into problems if you don’t know how to get CAM coverage. The following tips may help:
- Get your doctor to refer you to a CAM practitioner.
- Get your doctor to recommend a CAM treatment.
- Oft for mainstream CAM treatments, such as chiropractic care, instead of obscure ones.
- Use CAM in addition to your standard medical treatment.
Be sure to keep records of all referrals and recommendations by your doctor. The more you can prove your need for CAM, the more likely the insurance company will pay for it.
The auto accident defendant should compensate all your damages, including your pain and suffering. Contact Carl L. Britt, Jr. to strengthen your case and get your deserved compensation.