Accidents can come out of nowhere. Some of them are just minor fender-benders, where the worst thing that happens to you is a bruise or two, but sometimes you can sustain serious injuries, which have long-lasting repercussions and health consequences. Maybe you break a bone or several and have to be in a cast for weeks or months, or you tear muscles and tendons, etc. Not only will you be in immediate pain, and a lot of it, but you will have to face it for quite a while longer. The question now becomes, how can you heal completely after the accident, not only physically but mentally too? This article aims to hopefully answer that question, and while there are no definitive answers on how long the whole recovery process is going to last, there are at least some definitive actions you can take to put you on the right track. Time will do the rest.
Medical Care
The first and most obvious step is to seek medical care immediately after your accident, even if you do not feel any special pain. Not all injuries are immediately visible, and sometimes the pain and actual symptoms from injuries like whiplash, concussions, and spine damage can take hours, days, or even weeks to show up, and the longer you wait to go to a doctor or the ambulance crew, the worse your injuries may get which means they will need even more time to heal. Not only that but if you wait too long and your injuries like herniated spinal discs or whiplash go untreated, they may lead to chronic pain for you in the future, which you do not want, especially as untreated internal bleeding and concussions can cause permanent brain damage and be life-threatening. So, the first step is to call the ambulance or go to a hospital before contacting the proper legal help, like a truck accident lawyer in Tampa, who will analyze your case and advise you of the next steps to take, like perhaps seeking compensation if the negligence of another party caused the accident. Getting the right medical attention and legal counsel should be your immediate steps after an accident. Let a medical professional scan you for any internal swelling, bleeding, and soft tissue damage.
Acceptance And Patience
You cannot skip this step if you hope to heal properly. Acceptance of what happened. It is no use obsessing over the accident, how and why it happened, what might have happened if you had acted or reacted differently, and what you did wrong or not, none of that matters anymore, all those details concern your lawyer, You just need to accept that the accident happened, that you can not change the past, and that you have to move on, as the future is what you have control over. This brings us to the next step, patience. The entire healing and recovery process is not going to be done in a day, it will take time, weeks, perhaps months, or even years, and without patience, every day that passes will be hell for you. Take each day one at a time, remain calm, and look to the future.
Follow The Treatment Plan
The treatment and recovery process may be lengthy and slow, and the most effective way of ensuring a complete and total recovery in as short a time as possible is to stick to the prescribed treatment plan devised and given to you by your doctor. This includes limiting your usual activities and taking as much time off work as necessary to give your body ample time to heal, taking all your prescribed medications, taking part in physical therapy, and sticking to the appointments set up by your doctor and physical therapist. If you feel like some aspects of your plan are not working for you or are ineffective, do not just stop following it; instead, talk openly to your physician and discuss alternative options that may suit you better.
Rest
Sleep and adequate rest are important in general, but they are absolutely vital when you are recuperating from an injury, giving your body time to recover and heal itself. When you are sleeping, your body naturally increases the blood flow to the muscles, which kicks off muscle and tissue repair and growth. Also, the levels of stress hormones in your body drop when you are sleeping, helping to reduce internal inflammation. Instead of rushing around and trying to force your body violently into healing, slow down. Just slow down, take it easy, and rest, so the natural miracle that is your body can heal itself. Our bodies are capable of doing things; science still cannot even begin to figure out how or why, but it needs time to do so.
Easy Exercise
Resting does not mean you should be in an almost catatonic, bedridden state, of course, and while you should not over-exert yourself with intense exercises like weight-lifting, running, or combat sports, you should still do gentle exercises, like going for walks or stretching, to regain full range of flexibility, motion, endurance, and balance. Moving regularly will prevent your joints and muscles from getting weak and stiff, as well as help to reduce inflammation and aches from your injury or injuries. It is probably best to consult with your doctor or physical therapist and follow their recommendations for the types and amount of exercise that is beneficial and safe for you to do. Even if you feel like you are not doing enough and feel like you are capable of more, pushing yourself too far and too hard may make your injuries even worse and prolong the healing process.
As traumatic and terrifying as an accident can be, it is still quick, and it is the healing process that follows after that will be the true test. It will test your patience, pain tolerance, perseverance, and willingness to listen and follow the treatment plan. It will certainly not be easy, but if you just grit your teeth and keep pushing forward, you will recover and heal from your injuries.
