How To Completely Recover After Suffering An Injury From An Accident
If you’ve been in an accident or struggled with a personal injury, starting the recovery process can be challenging. It can be especially intimidating if you’ve suffered a major injury – not only do you need to take care of your body, you also need to handle the effects on the rest of your life.
While accident recovery will take time, there are steps you can take to ensure that you recover completely and as soon as possible.
Get a Medical Evaluation
Many people feel that they don’t need to get checked out unless the injury is significant and visible. While rest can help you recover, it doesn’t make up for proper medical care.
Additionally, there may be a possibility that you have been injured internally or in a way that you cannot identify. A proper diagnosis from a qualified medical professional will help your doctors create an appropriate treatment protocol. This, in turn, is a key part of ensuring that you’re completely recovered and you aren’t faced with any unpleasant health surprises in the future.
Speak to a Mental Health Professional
Recovery from accidents and injuries is not just limited to the physical state, it includes the mental state as well. While you might not feel that your accident has left a lasting impression on your psyche, it’s always good to get it checked out.
If you’ve been part of a car accident, getting a mental health evaluation is especially important. Research notes that motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of PTSD in the United States of America, with over 9% of all survivors developing significant symptoms. Additional mental health issues that can arise following a car accident include clinical depression and other mood disorders, a newfound phobia of driving, and more.
Many people avoid visiting a mental health professional due to a worry that they will be seen as weak. This could not be further from the truth – the truth is, an accident is traumatic both physically and mentally, and getting treatment for both aspects will help you recover quicker, with fewer setbacks along the way.
Contact an Attorney
Accidents can have an impact not only on your physical and mental health but on your financial health as well. Given the situation, you might have to take a couple of examinations as a way to identify any injuries which cost your time and money, and if you have suffered a personal injury that needs medical treatment, you will be looking at a hospital and doctor’s bills to pay. Additionally, there is a chance that you have had to miss out on work and lose wages if you have had to take time off to recover.
All of these considerations mean that even people with robust savings accounts can find themselves overwhelmed with financial responsibilities when all is said and done. A personal injury attorney can help determine whether your accident was the result of someone else’s negligence and what financial restitution you can get due to the same.
Make sure to contact an experienced attorney, as personal injury law can be a complex field, and you should have only the best helping you navigate it. While financial remuneration may not help heal your injuries, it can significantly reduce the stress you will be facing.
Make All Your Appointments
Even after visiting your doctor right after the accident, you must make all the follow-up appointments. This includes any referrals to specialists they may advise – research indicates about 20% of patients don’t follow up on referrals to specialists, and you shouldn’t be among them. A specialist referral is provided because your medical issue is more complex than your primary care physician can handle, and missing them means you risk further complications.
This advice rings especially true if you have been discharged after a period of hospitalization. The period after hospitalization is when you are significantly vulnerable, and overlooking critical care during this period risks forcing you back to the hospital.
Get Some Rest
Don’t try to rush back to work and your normal life right after suffering an accident. A lot of people feel that since they have a minor issue, they can return to normal immediately. However, doing so risks exacerbating your injury and only making it worse.
Follow your doctor’s recommendations to the letter. If they recommend bed-rest or time-off from work, make sure to get the downtime suggested. This is especially important if you have a job that requires significant physical strain, as you will likely be pushing your body further than appropriate. Additionally, make sure your doctor is fully briefed on the specifics of your job – while this may mean longer-term restrictions when it comes to working, it will also ensure that you’re fully recovered and you won’t have to worry about complications in the future.
Complete Your Treatments
If you’ve suffered a serious injury, it can seem overwhelming to be faced with the sheer number of treatments and therapies that your physician is recommending. However, your regimen has been prescribed for a reason.
Your doctor is a professional and knows the best route to take to ensure that you have a full recovery as soon as possible. While you may feel that you’ve progressed past certain checkpoints or that your body is ready to handle any further strain, your doctor will have better knowledge on how much more physical therapy you do or don’t require.
One reason that many people try to rush their medical treatment is due to fear of lost income. If you’re concerned about financial losses and medical bills, speak to your attorney. They’ll be able to reassure you about the progress of your litigation, allowing you to focus on the most important thing – your health.
As you recover from your accident, it’s essential to surround yourself with supportive friends and family members. Resist any urge you may feel to pull away from them – they love you and are concerned for you. Indeed, having a supportive ‘village’ of people around you can even boost your recovery time!
While recovering from injury – especially following an accident caused by someone else – can be challenging, it’s essential to keep to your doctor’s advice and trust in your attorney. Doing this will allow you to focus on yourself and your health so that you can be back to your daily life before you know it.
