Being involved in a car accident can alter your life profoundly. One of the most common injuries that occur as a result of a car accident are back injuries, and these can lead to chronic pain as well as mobility difficulties. Pain in the back can also be accompanied by paralysis if the spinal cord has been injured. If you or a loved one has been suffering from back pain after a car accident in Iowa, action must be taken so that the deserving amount of compensation is sought.
By understanding the nature of different types of back pain and the way that such pain can affect the patient’s quality of life, you will likely feel more empowered to fight for compensation and make sure that fault is correctly attributed to the car accident.
How back pain can affect your emotions
Physical pain can affect us mentally, too. Pain has the power to greatly affect our mood, especially if the pain is chronic. It can set off a vicious cycle because it interferes with our ability to sleep, concentrate, and get things done. In turn, this leads to us not only being in pain but also being sleep deprived, unproductive, and frustrated. This can lead to increased stress, depression, and anxiety.
How back pain can create avoidant behavior
A person with an injured back is likely to be in more pain when they are in certain positions and when they are performing certain activities, for example, when they are driving a car or pushing a shopping cart. This may make them fearful of feeling unexpected severe pain when doing these things, and as a result, they may avoid conducting such activities altogether.
Acting in this way is known as avoidant behavior, which can lead to a lifestyle that is limiting and isolating. Not only does avoidant behavior limit the things that a person can do, but it also fails to address the initial problem.
If you or a loved one is suffering because of chronic pain that resulted from a car accident, you should fight to get compensation. This compensation could help with physical therapy as well as behavioral therapy that can improve a patient’s quality of life.