One of the most unfortunate days of your life has passed. Now, you’re thinking about what to do after a car crash, and recovery is one of the first things on your mind. Keeping healthy and getting better will require determination and help from others, but with enough patience and consistent output, you can be sure to get well again after a car accident. Keep reading for instructions on how to stay healthy after being in a car wreck.
Seek Medical Attention Right Away
Right after a car crash, minor aches and pains, scratches, and cuts might make you want to skip out on medical treatment. But any kind of persistent pain or discomfort that doesn’t go away could be a sign of a much bigger problem. From infection to broken bones, if you’ve managed to cope with the initial pain, you might not notice you’re dealing with something similar. As current injuries can get worse without treatment, you should be on the lookout for intense pain or immobility that gets worse after a car accident.
Most people would recommend going to a doctor for a routine checkup after a car accident just to be on the safe side. For example, if you were cut by broken glass, you can worry about the cost of towing your vehicle at a later date. Your mental and physical health should always come first, then you can look into something such as an auto glass repair service. Remember, focus on the impact that injuries will have on your work, family life, and ability to live with purpose. While you might be worried about the future, the important thing is to think of solutions as soon as you can. You’ll find that with the vast amount of current medical research available, the treatment options for your particular injury might be less limited than you think. That’s even more reason to go about making sure you get the best medical care in the future.
Find the Right Doctors
Choosing the right doctors, medical professionals, and treatment specialists is a priority that ensures you get the appropriate treatment for specific injuries. If you’re having persistent pain in your bones, you might choose to seek chiropractor services rather than relying on prescription pain medication for relief. And, if you were struck by flying debris and suffered the loss of teeth, choosing the right kind of dentist can ensure you’re aligned with cosmetic or restorative dental options. In most cases, the first doctor you go to may refer you to another, but sometimes, you’ll be left doing your own research.
Your previous experience with doctors should tell you that you could work with the wrong one and not get the best care for your particular medical problem. That’s a problem if you need a provider who’s also patient enough to listen to you but knowledgeable enough to educate you on the problems you’re facing. While it’s safe to assume that most doctors will be educated and committed to the task, be prepared to have to switch to another treatment provider if you find your needs aren’t being met. Sometimes, the hospital or facility providing your services can transfer your case to another location. In other cases, you might need a specialist with more specific experience in dealing with your injury. Since most car accident injuries will be similar, you can safely assemble a team of doctors and treatment providers without having to do too much searching.
Get Plenty of Rest
Injuries need time to heal. Broken bones and fractures need time to grow properly so that you don’t suffer pain in the future. Deep cuts must close and ongoing treatment might be needed to reduce scarring and infection. All injuries will require a longer recovery window, especially if you’re placing too much pressure on the affected area. You can also cause stitches to tear, as well as contribute to broken, sprained, or fractured bones growing incorrectly. Usually, the nature of a crash will tell you how much rest you should get. For serious crashes resulting in lengthy hospital stays, you should always follow your doctor’s advice, and generally, get more sleep than you think you need. Your body will be putting more energy into healing and recovering, meaning you’ll get tired faster, anyway. Still, you have to consider how much time you can rest without sacrificing your ability to meet your usual responsibilities. It’s best to establish a routine shortly after a crash, and make sure everyone in your family sees how it fits with your treatment plan. That way, you won’t have to worry about people barging in on your rest time. And, you’ll be sure to get the rest you need sooner rather than later.
That said, if you suffered traumatic body injuries, you might need much more rest than someone who walked away with a few abrasions. If you’re invested in your future, getting rest is easier if you’re interested in health and wellness resorts. These opportunities can be a great way to escape the horrors of a car crash while also giving you space and motivation to pursue the wellness goals you want. If you think about rest in terms of how crucial every hour is, you’ll see why you should start switching off your smartphone earlier, then cut back on the late evening caffeine. Whether you’re at a wellness resort or recovering at home, the rest you get will rejuvenate your body, helping you to feel relaxed and more optimistic during the days following the car crash. Take as much time as you need today, and by the time you’re back on the road, you’ll have all the energy you need.
Don’t Stress Out Too Much About Your Vehicle
There are priorities you have to worry about right now. Your safety, which is determined by the kind of treatment you’ll need, the length of your recovery, and whether or not you can protect yourself from further injuries in the near future. You also have to worry about other issues like filing for unemployment benefits if you’re going to be out of work. Instead of making yourself feel worse by worrying too much, you can search for a disability lawyer to help you in the process of filling out an application for disability benefits. The best car accident lawyer around might be able to get you compensated so you can get your vehicle repaired and back on the road. But if you can’t be sure of your long-term financial security, you’re not using the best resources out there to accelerate your recovery. Whether you want to or not, at some point you need to think of the financial implications of a car crash. There may be many more there than you realize.
The financial consequences of your car crash include the cost of repairs, the cost of your healthcare and medical treatment, and the cost associated with the time spent not working. Now, more than ever, you should bounce back after a lengthy period of rest by making a list of all the important decisions that have to be made. Does your spouse have to work more? Is someone going to be there to pick up the kids from school? What about the daily home upkeep responsibilities? With one family member at work and the other bedridden or need rest, you’ll see your productivity take a hit unless you stay organized after a car crash. Keep the important documents where they belong and stay on top of contact names and numbers. When you’re organized, you’ll find it’s a lot easier to keep on track of car accident-related priorities, as it keeps you focused and in a positive frame of mind.
Take Medications As Needed
You shouldn’t feel ashamed or frustrated about taking medication after a car crash. Pain medications and antibiotics are two kinds of medications you’re most likely to take. The force of the crash and the resulting injuries will require surgery that will leave you in pain afterward. And, for injuries to your skin, the risk of infection is high if a period of time passes before you’re offered help in a car crash. While the most severe crashes warrant treatment in addition to medication, you’ll find that the routine pills you’ll have to take won’t do you much harm. Aside from bouts of drowsiness and maybe mild dizziness, the pain medication and antibiotics you might take are unlikely to cause you any serious side effects. The added benefit is that some of these medications will help make your life easier. For example, you may be able to clean around the house or complete basic work responsibilities if you’re taking pain medication. So, as long as you’re thinking of how medication can benefit you from a constructive perspective, taking it is well worth the expense, especially since your medical insurance may very well cover the cost of the prescription.
Stretch and Attempt Exercise
It may be tempting to only lie in bed, but after a car crash, there will come a time when you’ve recovered enough to get up and moving. When that happens, you’ll want to develop the habit of pushing your muscles to work against resistance. So, instead of resting all the time, you try walking or driving. Instead of spending the day in bed, you might decide that getting up every once in a while to the street is the best way to make sure your joints stay limber. Your muscles will tighten the longer you stay in bed, and many injuries require some degree of working out.
Limit the amount of exercise you do at first, at least long enough to make sure you’re not overexerting yourself too early. Too much exercise in the early stages can burn you out and lengthen your recovery time. If you’d rather be back to work sooner rather than later, make sure you’re not feeling too much pain and discomfort when exercising. Pain and extreme discomfort are two signs that the exercise might be bad for your injuries. If you ever have questions, it’s not a bad idea to go over your exercise routine with your doctor. That way, you’ll know which injuries you should avoid and which ones work to your advantage. The better your recovery will be in the end.
Reflect on What You Learned
The car crash was unfortunate. Bad things do happen. While you may feel tempted to ignore what happened, you’ll find yourself thinking about the wreck in the days that follow. Auto repair services will be the last thing on your mind when you’re remembering the screeching sound of metal. Fortunately, you can cope with some of the horrific memories by starting a journal. Keep an accurate recording of what you experienced and how you feel, taking careful consideration to include sensory details and individual experiences related to the crash. You might find that something about the other driver’s driving habits contributed to the crash, and that might be information you can share with your attorney later. If you spend enough thinking and reflecting, you could notice that the expensive car repairs you’re worried about will be compensated by your insurance company, so you don’t have to worry about it. Often, simply writing down about your negative experiences is a good way to alleviate the stress and burden that follows.
From the moment you experienced a car crash, you probably knew that the recovery period wouldn’t be easy. The reality is, car crashes can cause serious injuries that leave drivers bed-ridden and forced to consult with numerous medical professionals. Whether you choose a chiropractor or a general family doctor, you’ll still need determination, patience, and exercise to recover from a car crash injury. The speed at which you recover will be influenced by other factors, such as whether you go to physical therapy or take medications to support your health. But as long as you take special care to follow your treatment plan, the choices you must make to stay healthy will become easier to make.