Recovering from Car Accident Injuries

A car accident can be traumatic, both mentally and physically. Healing can be a long process, but the sooner you start, the quicker you will begin to feel better. Your behavior in the few days following your accident can set the tone for the rest of your recovery. Failing to take care of yourself can mean a longer recovery period.

Car Accident Recovery Tips

Consider the following tips for healing after your car accident.

Follow Your Doctor’s Advice

Car accident injuries can range from a few bruises to whiplash to extreme internal damage. If you’re in a car accident, you should see a doctor for a check up, even if you think you’re fine. A doctor can ensure you don’t have a concussion or any unseen internal injuries. Pay attention to your doctor’s diagnosis and follow their instructions. Be sure to make an appointment for a check up so the doctor can assess your progress.

Get Plenty of Rest

Bed rest is important following a bad injury. Your body needs extra energy to heal, and sleeping helps you create that energy. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for how much bed rest you should take.

Use Ice

If you have any swelling or pain immediately following your accident, ice treatments can help ease them both. Do not apply ice directly—always wrap it in a cloth. If the area you’re icing feels too cold, wrap the ice in another cloth. Icing an injury should not be painful. Do not leave the ice on for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Later, Use Heat

Ice is good for dealing with the immediate symptoms of an injury. Then, as you begin to rehabilitate your injured muscles, heat helps relax them so they perform better. Similar to ice, a heat treatment should never be painful or cause burns. Apply heat for 20 minutes at a time.

Stretch

Gentle stretching is a great way to rehabilitate your body once you are finished with the bed rest portion of your healing. Don’t do difficult or advanced stretches right away. Your body may be stiffer than you’re used to, and you should listen to how you feel to determine what intensity of a stretch is right. Over stretching at this stage can injure your already sensitive muscles, which means more pain and a longer healing time.

Stretch three times a day, doing three repetitions of each stretch for 30 seconds. Ease back if the stretch becomes painful. Ask your doctor for advice on what sort of stretches will be most helpful to you.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is an easy way to increase the time it will take your body to heal. In most cases, you need more water than usual while you are healing. Keep a water bottle at your side so you can hydrate frequently. Your body needs water to heal efficiently.

Contact an Auto Accident Attorney Today

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a car accident, you are urged to contact the attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. An Indianapolis car accident lawyer from WKW can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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