Long-Term Health Effects of Personal Injuries

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

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Long-Term Health Effects of Personal Injuries

Ready to hear something that most people never realize about personal injuries?

Personal injuries are a long-term process.

The accident and initial injury are only the beginning of a battle that starts months or years later when the long term health effects start to set in.

And here’s the really hard truth about personal injuries…

You’re almost always completely unprepared for what happens next.

Understanding the long term effects of personal injuries is critical to ensuring your health, financial security, and quality of life. When dealing with a serious injury, working with an experienced personal injury law firm can help ensure that you get the compensation you need to protect your future as well as cover all current and future medical expenses.

In this article, we’ll explain how to best protect yourself and your long-term health when facing a personal injury case.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

1. What are the Long Term Health Effects of Personal Injuries?
2. Physical Effects of Personal Injuries
3. Psychological Long-Term Effects of Personal Injuries
4. Financial Costs of Personal Injuries
5. What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
6. Recovery Timelines

What Are the Long Term Health Effects of Personal Injuries?

Personal injuries never just heal and go away.

The truth is, for many people, the injury effects last long after the wounds are healed.

Recent statistics reveal that more than 50 million adults in the U.S. live with chronic pain as a result of injuries.

That’s more people than have diabetes or depression or high blood pressure.

And it doesn’t stop there…

Personal injuries are the legal term used for accidents such as car accidents, slip and fall accidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and sports injuries.

Each of these injuries can set in motion a long list of long-term health effects that are physical, mental, and financial in nature.

The Physical Effects Nobody Tells You About

Hold on to your hat for a minute.

Here’s a statistic that floored me when I first came across it…

Research has found that 76.8% of patients studied reported unsatisfactory outcomes 6 months following musculoskeletal trauma and even at 12 months post injury, 38.6% of the sample had persistent chronic disabling pain.

Let me simplify that for you.

The medical community uses the term “chronic” to describe pain that lasts 3-6 months or longer. This type of pain can have a significant impact on your daily life in the following ways:

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is the number one cause of long-term disability in the U.S.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, injury, or suffered due to medical malpractice, you face a high risk of developing persistent or chronic pain.

Chronic pain can take over your life. It makes work difficult, if not impossible. It causes sleep issues, loss of mobility and flexibility, and low energy throughout the day. Pain like this is the main reason why most people end up on long-term disability.

Reduced Mobility and Physical Function

Many personal injury cases result in permanent limitations on the victim’s physical functions and capabilities.

You may be unable to lift heavy objects, stand or walk for long periods, engage in physical activities and hobbies you once enjoyed, or even complete basic daily tasks without assistance.

That can be maddening to live with.

The Psychological Long-Term Effects

But here’s the part that really gets me going…

The psychological and mental health effects of personal injuries are frequently worse than the physical effects.

And they often go ignored and untreated in the early phases of treatment and in the legal process.

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, isolation, and other mental health effects of personal injuries can last much longer than any physical injuries. These effects can cause long-term impacts on your ability to work, form and maintain relationships, and enjoy everyday activities.

The Emotional Impact on Daily Life

Take a moment and really think about this…

When you’re in chronic pain, in a wheel chair, or even living with daily limitations that make it difficult to function, simple tasks like cleaning the house, bathing, and cooking can become significant challenges.

The emotional distress you feel when dealing with constant pain, inability to care for yourself, or the use of assistive devices can be overwhelming.

Don’t believe me? Let me show you.

Emotional distress from personal injuries is associated with increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, strained relationships, and loss of independence.

That’s how much personal injuries really affect your everyday life.

The Financial Cost That Nobody Talks About

Here’s a wild stat for you…

The financial cost of personal injuries can be truly staggering. I want to take a moment to explain to you exactly where that money goes…

Lost Income and Earnings

The financial impact of personal injuries isn’t limited to the physical health impact. Lost income, diminished earning potential, and other factors can have a long-term impact on a victim’s financial situation and earning potential. Financial loss associated with personal injuries can include:

• Time off work during recovery and treatment
• Reduced earning potential due to permanent limitations
• Lost opportunities for career advancement or promotions
• Forced early retirement or career changes
• Decreased productivity at work
• Ongoing medical and care costs

It really is that bad.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

That’s a great question, and there’s a lot to unpack.

The key to dealing with long term effects is to start early. Here’s what’s most important:

Seek a Comprehensive Medical Evaluation

When you’ve been injured in an accident, slip and fall, or medical malpractice case, don’t just treat the “visible” injuries.

Have your doctors give you a complete evaluation of all potential long term effects. This includes understanding the full extent of your injuries, identifying secondary conditions that may develop or are present, and assessing risk factors for future chronic pain or disability.

Document Everything

When you’re protecting your future health and well-being after a personal injury, documentation is key. Don’t just rely on medical notes, keep your own records of all medical appointments, how your injuries and pain impact your daily activities, pain levels over time, and any changes in your physical or mental health.

Get Experienced Legal Representation

This is where working with an experienced law firm or personal injury legal team becomes most important.

An experienced lawyer will make sure you get not just current compensation but will ensure you’re positioned to collect on long term expenses associated with your injury. This includes long-term medical care costs, future lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.

Follow Through With Treatment

Yes, I know it’s hard, and no, it’s not always fun.

Treatment and sticking with recovery are absolutely essential to minimizing the long term effects of personal injuries. That means:

• Keep all scheduled appointments and follow your doctors’ instructions and recommendations
• Participate fully in physical therapy
• Follow through on mental health treatment

Recovery Timelines

If you’ve been hurt in an accident or through the negligence of another party, you’re no doubt wondering about recovery.

The good news is that most people make a full or close to full recovery, given adequate treatment and time. That said, different injuries and individuals will have different recovery timelines. In general, you can expect:

• 6-12 months for moderate injuries with proper care and rehabilitation
• 1-2 years for severe injuries requiring extensive treatment
• Ongoing treatment and care for permanent disability or injuries

Keep in mind that with the right treatment and support, you can significantly improve your long-term prognosis.

Final Thoughts

Evaluating the long-term health effects of personal injuries is not just an academic exercise. It’s a vital part of taking control of your recovery and future.

The facts are clear. The long-term effects of personal injuries are real and can last long after the initial accident. The physical pain experienced by millions of Americans every year is just the start.

Psychological and emotional trauma from accidents can also cause long-term harm, often more than the physical injury itself.

The good news is that you can take action now to protect your health and financial future.

By understanding long-term effects early on, documenting your injury carefully, and working with the right medical and legal professionals, you can position yourself to get the full compensation you need to pay for treatment and protect your future.

Don’t wait until long-term issues develop to take action. Get full medical evaluations, keep with your treatment plan, and make sure your legal claims account for both current and future medical expenses.