4 Unusual Complications of Auto Accident Injuries

Fractures, burns, lacerations, cuts, and sprains are common injuries auto accident victims suffer. Sometimes, however, the immediate injuries you experience are not the only ones you will suffer before your recover. Auto accidents cause serious health complications that you should factor into your auto accident claim. Below are four examples of these complications.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic health disorder that causes widespread pain. Doctors do not know the exact cause of the condition, but its risk factors include physical trauma, infection, and psychological stress. Fibromyalgia can cause headaches, cognitive problems, sleep problems, and fatigue.

The pain can interfere with your psychological well-being and quality of life, eventually affecting all aspects of life. For example, driving is difficult and dangerous with constant fatigue and headaches. Your inability to drive can interfere with your work and lifestyle.

Fibromyalgia also compounds your pain and suffering since the condition can be debilitating. Unfortunately, you must work hard for the additional compensation since it's an invisible injury. Your lawyer may advise using an expert witness to prove your pain.

A hernia is an intrusion of internal organs or tissues into weak muscles, causing the affected area to bulge. Hernias commonly occur in the abdominal area but can affect other body parts.

Weight problems, physical strain, and physical trauma are common causes of hernias. Thus, it's not surprising that an auto accident can cause a hernia. For example, you might develop a hernia when a seatbelt pushes into and weakens the muscles around an organ during rapid deceleration.

The hernia complicates your auto accident treatment in different ways. Apart from treating your injuries, you may also need medication for the hernia. Surgical intervention might be called for in case of extreme hernia.

Arthritis is the inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. Post-traumatic arthritis occurs when physical trauma affects and inflames the tissues around a joint. For example, you might develop arthritis after a knee injury in a car crash. Other forms of arthritis may develop slowly over the years, but post-traumatic arthritis develops quickly after an accident.

Since arthritis is a joint problem, it can severely limit your ability to undertake everyday tasks or activities that involve the joint. For example, a golfer with severe knee injuries might see their game suffer, and a machine operator with elbow arthritis might lose their job if they cannot operate the machines.

In addition, you also have to contend with expensive diagnoses and lifestyle changes. For example, you may need a CT scan or MRI to diagnose the condition. Common treatments for arthritis include physical therapy and the use of braces. All these complicate your already complicated auto accident situation.