Car accidents injure upwards of 50 million people a year. Those injuries vary in severity but each one is a problem that needs immediate attention.
Have you been hurt in a car accident? If so, there are several steps you should take to keep yourself in as little pain as possible.
Keep reading to learn the right way to tackle your pain.
Contact an Attorney
If you’re suffering from pain after an accident, one of the first things you should do is contact a good car accident attorney. They’ll know all of the correct steps you need to take to get compensation for your pain and its treatment.
It’s also a good idea to talk to a doctor at the same time because the information your doctor gives you will help the attorney with your case.
Apply Heat or Ice to the Area
The application of both heat and ice does wonders for pains of all kinds, but using the wrong one makes the injury worse.
If your injury is new with lots of red swelling, bruising, or feels hot to the touch, that’s a sign of inflammation and it needs ice. The ice helps reduce that swelling within your muscles and joints and reduce the pain caused by it.
If your injury causes you pain whenever you move, but there’s no hint of any swelling, then heat is the right choice. The heat helps with blood flow, bringing more oxygen to the injured area and encouraging it to heal. It also loosens the muscles, making them relax and cause you less pain.
Take an Anti-Inflammatory
Sometimes applying ice to an area isn’t enough to get the swelling down all the way. In that case, you’ll want to take an appropriate anti-inflammatory.
Look for NSAIDs and anything that mentions “fever reducer,” as these will bring down the swelling within your injured muscles. They’ll also help with managing your pain.
Remember to follow the instructions on the bottle as you don’t want to take too many of them in one go.
Get a Massage
Most car accident pain comes from strained muscles. Getting a massage or visiting a chiropractor is a great way to help get those muscles to relax.
It’s not good to get a massage if your injury remains swollen, as it’ll cause you more pain to have the area touched.
If the massage ends up causing you more pain than relaxation, ask the masseuse to stop right away and call your doctor. There might be a more severe underlying issue with your injury that needs an inspection.
Being Hurt in a Car Accident Is a Serious Situation
Don’t ignore the pain that you’re feeling. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, it’s something you need to take care of right away.
Make sure to use the steps above to help give yourself some relief as you heal and deal with the problem. Don’t push yourself past your limit or else you’ll make it worse, so get plenty of rest as well!
Still feel in pain? Check out the rest of our blog to find the right kind of pain relief.