Short & Long-Term Pain Relief Options After An Accident: Our Guide

How do you know when you’ll need a month-long treatment plan or if a simple ice pack at home will do the trick? There is no telling what the gravity of your injury will be after an accident, but you can be prepared with the tell-tale signs and recommendations in this guide to short and long-term pain relief options after an accident. For expert advice and long-term treatment options near you, be sure to contact your local Impact Medical office!

The Types of Pain Associated With Car Crash Injuries

To determine whether you need short or long-term pain relief, you must first understand the different types of pain for accurate measure. Doctors typically classify pain as either chronic or acute, and knowing this yourself can help you seek the right treatment that’s best for your injury:

Acute pain is what you feel immediately after the impact of a car crash. Since this type of pain shows itself within moments, you can respond to them sooner rather than later. With prompt treatment, acute pain is more likely to go away before it can feel concerning.
Chronic pain stems from injuries that take longer to heal or injuries that are neglected. Much more is required to treat chronic pain such as therapy, pain management, and surgery which can all take weeks or months to complete and recover from.

Learn more about the types of personal injuries that can cause varying levels of pain after an accident.

Short-Term Pain Relief Options – Best For Acute Pain

For acute pain that lasts no longer than a couple of months, short-term pain relief options are sometimes enough to resolve the problem. Many short-term methods can be done at home, including simple tricks like using ice packs to manage swelling, braces to secure the injured area during healing, and anti-inflammatory pain medications that you can get for over-the-counter pain relief. Keeping up with at-home self-care can help you see results for acute pain, but if your injury doesn’t seem to be making any progress, you may need to see a specialist.

Long-Term Pain Relief Options For Complex Injuries

Chronic pain is typically treated with long-term methods from a practitioner, like your local chiropractor, physical therapist, or surgeon. These methods are usually recommended when short-term treatment isn’t showing any signs of improvement. Examples of effective long-term pain relief include:

Physical therapy – Ranging from a couple of sessions to weekly visits for as long as six months, PT requires time and patience to relieve pain by restoring the body’s strength and flexibility. PT can also help prevent long-term conditions in the future.
Manual therapy – An offshoot of physical therapy, manual therapy aims to release muscle tension and promote blood flow which can decrease both stress and pain.
Chiropractic care – A chiropractor is trained to make spinal adjustments that can reduce inflammation in your tissues for effective pain relief.
Manipulation under anesthesia – When the pain is too intense, stopping you from performing any of the above treatments, MUA procedures can numb the area before restoring functionality.
Surgery – Sometimes, the only way to relieve pain is to directly address the injury with surgery. There may be a recovery period after receiving surgery, but the end result could be a pain-free body.

Explore Short and Long-Term Pain Relief Options at Impact Medical!

Whether you have acute pain that can be treated with short-term methods or intense or chronic pain that requires long-term care, Impact Medical has everything you need to recover and eliminate any debilitating pain that’s disrupting your quality of life. Find your nearest location today for a consultation appointment!