Nerve Damage Symptoms After a Car Accident
Car accidents can often lead to injuries that aren’t immediately apparent. Nerves are sensitive and delicate, and damage to the nerves can result in nerve pain as well as numbness and tingling.
Numbness or tingling in affected areas can be caused by either pressure on the nerve itself or permanent damage directly to the nerve. In other cases, injuries sustained during car accidents can become worse because the injured party does not seek immediate medical treatment. Swelling and other natural bodily responses to injuries can also put pressure on the nerve.
A skilled doctor can help in determining whether or not your nerve damage symptoms are the result of a permanent or temporary condition. At Car Wreck Doctor, we understand the unique struggles that car accident victims face. We can expedite your recovery and recommend effective treatment.
What Is Nerve Damage?
Your nerves are like electrical circuits that carry messages from your brain to your hands, feet, toes, fingers, and everywhere else in your body. When they are being compressed, pinched, crushed, or otherwise impacted, they send a signal back to your brain in the form of pain, numbness, or tingling. This does not mean that the damage is permanent necessarily. A doctor will have to conduct a full examination to make that determination.
Symptoms include:
- Paralysis of limbs,
- Weakness in limbs,
- Radiating pain,
- Prickling, tingling, or numbness,
- Painful muscle spasms, and
- Heightened sensitivity to hot or cold.
We can help determine the cause of your nerve damage symptoms and create the right treatment plan for you.
Common Causes of Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can be caused by a number of injuries. These include musculoskeletal injuries, such as broken bones or trauma to a specific area. Slipped or herniated discs are also a common cause of nerve pain. Pinched nerves occur when there is pressure placed on the nerve. Whiplash too can result in nerve pain. Deep lacerations can sever nerves. In this case, a trauma surgeon will need to reattach the nerve but you may never have the full strength of that muscle again.
Treatment for Numbness and Tingling After a Car Accident
In cases where the nerve is compressed due to some other problem, treating that problem first can be effective. For example, one common cause of nerve pain is a ruptured disc. When the disc ruptures, it puts pressure on the nerve causing pain, numbness, and tingling on that side of the body. Treating the ruptured disc can help in managing the nerve damage symptoms.
In other cases, the damage may be permanent. In those cases, physical therapy may help restore some of the functionality of the affected area. Additionally, surgery might help. Pain can generally be controlled by some combination of anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxers, and/or other pain management options. Steroids are also effective at treating serious nerve pain.
Contact Car Wreck Doctor Today
When dealing with nerve damage symptoms, early intervention is crucial in order to avoid more serious problems in the future. Talk to a Car Wreck Doctor today to learn more about how we can help.