Studies Reveal Past Georgia Car Accident May Lead to Chronic Pain and Depression
If you are involved in a Georgia car accident involving injuries, you face a higher risk of chronic long-term pain. Many car accident victims do not realize that their car accident injuries may cause pain that persists for months or even years, and that this pain may have other physical or mental consequences.
A recent study shows that once a Georgia car accident victim believes that they have moved past the immediate consequences of a Georgia car accident, in many cases chronic pain can negatively impact a Georgia car accident victim for years. At Montlick and Associates, our Georgia car accident lawyers have seen firsthand the turmoil that chronic pain can cause car crash victims in Georgia.
The study published in the American College of Rheumatology journal analyzed data from over 2,069 subjects with musculoskeletal pain and accompanying anxiety who were asked to provide information on several occasions over a year. A third of those in the study who suffered the onset of new pain had suffered at least one past physical trauma like a Georgia car accident during the timeframe of the study. The researchers adjusted for other factors and found that those who had been involved in an auto collision had an 84 percent higher risk of suffering chronic widespread pain (CWP).
It is common for a Georgia car accident victim to find that once the initial injuries have healed and the intensity of the pain has diminished the victim suffers a persistent stabbing or aching pain. Sometimes months may pass between the accident and the onset of the lingering chronic pain. This makes it essential to seek immediate medical attention following a car accident even if you believe that you suffered only minor injuries. The doctor may identify more severe conditions that were not immediately apparent. The experienced Georgia car accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates recommend seeking a diagnostic exam and treatment immediately following a Georgia car accident.
The condition of chronic widespread pain (CWP) is oftened diagnosed as fibromyalgia. The study indicates that someone who is involved in a Georgia car accident is more likely to experience this condition resulting in chronic pain throughout the body than those involved in other types of trauma. A previous study of the relationship between fibromyalgia and car accidents involved a review of 2000 patient records. The study found that 65 percent of patients in the study indicated that their chronic widespread pain (fibromyalgia) began after a serious physical trauma. Over 50 percent of those who reported widespread chronic pain were involved in a motor vehicle accident like a Georgia car accident. Among those in the study the most common injury reported by car accident victims that later manifested in widespread chronic pain was whiplash.
Long-term widespread chronic pain suffered in a Georgia car accident can also have serious psychological consequences. According to Daniel K Hall-Flavin M.D., a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, pain along with the financial and legal problems that can accompany prolonged pain can wear a person down and have a significant negative impact on mood. Depression can result from the stress and discomfort associated with prolonged pain symptoms and cause low self-esteem because of resulting legal, employment and financial issues following a traumatic event like a Georgia car accident. At Montlick & Associates, our Georgia car accident lawyers can handle your legal and insurance issues to help relieve some of the stress.
The Georgia car accident lawyers at Montlick and Associates understand the hardships faced by those suffering from chronic pain following a Georgia car accident. Our experienced Georgia car accident lawyers have been representing Georgia car accident victims in recovering the compensation they deserve, and guiding our clients through legal and financial issues following a Georgia car accident, for over 39 years.
Our Georgia car accident lawyers are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.