Everyone knows how dangerous a car crash can be. But a new study from the U.K. indicates that a car crash may be even more likely to cause long-term chronic pain for its survivors than other types of injuries.
The study, which followed over 2,000 individuals, found that of the 241 who reported a new case of widespread chronic pain, an unusually high number had reported being in a traffic accident. The investigators determined that people in traffic accidents had an 84 percent increased risk of developing widespread chronic pain. People reporting other sorts of traumatic events, such as those who had undergone surgery or given birth, saw no increased risk of widespread chronic pain.
The investigators suggest that there may be something about the sort of trauma that the body experiences in a car crash that affects the body differently than in other types of injuries. Soft tissue damage in particular (which includes muscles, tendons and ligaments) seems to be a common occurrence among those suffering from widespread chronic pain.
For the purposes of the study, the sort of widespread chronic pain being discussed is defined as "pain above and below the waist, or on both the left and right sides of the body, for three months or longer." This sort of pain is a primary characteristic of fibromyalgia.
As the study shows, there are often long-term side effects due to a car accident, and if injuries such as soft tissue damage are not treated, they can lead to years or decades of pain. If you've been in any type of car accident, be sure to get medical attention-and pay attention to what your body is telling you. And if that accident may have been someone else's fault, talk to an experienced attorney, who can help you understand your legal rights to compensation for your injuries.
