Call Now4 Reasons You Shouldn’t Ignore Rib Pain After an Accident
Rib injuries are all too common after a car accident. The seatbelt can tighten up and press on your chest hard enough to either bruise or fracture your rib cage, or that particular area can become the target of a direct impact from other sources like harder car components or debris. Whatever the cause, leaving rib injuries untreated for too long can pose a huge risk to your overall health. The experts at Impact Medical Port Richey will educate you on the many conditions that can arise from ignoring rib pain after an accident and what you can do to prevent the worst from happening.
1. Developing Chronic Pain
It’s true that rib pain can go away on its own in some cases. However, relying on this is a huge gamble because the pain can actually get much worse. In the case of a severely bruised or fractured rib, letting the pain persist can actually lead to chronic pain that won’t go away anytime soon, if ever. In terms of chronic pain, the rib and chest regions are the worst areas for such a condition as it’s the most painful when compared to most other parts of the body. Visiting a physical therapist as soon as possible is much easier on your body in the long run than dealing with intense pain for the remainder of your life.
2. Risk of Damaging Your Lungs
Any form of damage to the ribs is of immediate concern to your lung health since the lungs are located directly underneath. It can become harder and more painful to breathe, especially if you try to take deep breaths. Since breathing is a natural yet necessary function that we normally don’t think about, this form of pain is among the most uncomfortable that you’ll likely ever experience. Even worse, the symptoms can evolve into pneumonia which is caused by infection and leads to severe inflammation and fluid in your air sacs.
3. Gaining a Chest Deformity
When the cartilage around your ribs grows unevenly due to injuries such as that from a car crash, it can cause your entire chest region to become deformed. This deformity is immediately noticeable and can make it more difficult to perform normal tasks since it causes severe fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Simple actions that were a breeze to you before the accident can become taxing to the point of needing to sit or lie down much too often.
4. A Threat to Your Wellbeing
Although not extremely common, rib injuries have been known to be fatal. A fractured rib can puncture the lungs or other vital organs. And of course, getting pneumonia can become extremely deadly. The lungs and chest are sensitive areas that shouldn’t be taken lightly, or else it’ll be too late to do anything about it. However, you can improve your chances of healing if you see a medical professional as soon as possible.
Treat Your Rib Pain At Impact Medical Port Richey!
We value your health and so we highly encourage you to come and see our skilled physical therapists at Impact Medical Port Richey as soon as you can if you’re suffering from rib pain after an accident. You don’t want your symptoms to progress and become deadly, so call (727) 848-3377 today to schedule an appointment!
