Remedying Pain Sustained From Common Truck Accident Injuries

If you were involved in a truck accident, getting the care you need is vital for maintaining your overall health and well-being. This is especially true if you sustained injuries that have led to ongoing problems, such as chronic pain. 

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, is pleased to provide a range of treatments for ongoing pain and mobility problems related to injuries, so you can get back to fuller living.

Here’s a closer look at truck accident injuries, including how to manage resulting pain.

Common truck accident injuries

Many truck accident injuries are the same type you might glean from a smaller car accident. But because trucks are larger and heavier than other vehicles, your likelihood of severe injury increases, whether you were driving the truck or the car, motorcycle, or bike that collided with one.

Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:

• Brain or head injuries
• Burns
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Fractures
• Damage to your internal organs
• Lacerations
• Whiplash

All of these injuries are painful and may lead to chronic pain or even amputation, disability, or disfigurement.

Remedying pain after a truck accident injury

The type and severity of pain you experience after a truck accident depends on numerous factors, such as the intensity of the impact, which body areas were affected, and your overall health. 

One study showed that six weeks after a vehicular accident, 20% of people injured continued to experience pain. Six months afterward, 12% lived with lingering pain.

To manage your pain, Dr. Kang and our team at Houston Pain Specialists will recommend a personalized treatment plan that addresses your specific injuries and needs. 

If you’re dealing with lasting back pain, for example, your treatment plan may include:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers
• Adjusting how you lift objects and carry yourself
• Approved exercises, aimed at muscle strength
• Stopping smoking, for improved blood flow

For more severe back or neck pain, we may recommend one or a series of epidurals. Once injected into the space around your spinal cord, the anesthetic may bring you some immediate relief. Within days, the cortisone kicks in to lower inflammation. 

For localized pain of your neck, lower back, or upper back (thoracic), we may recommend epidurals or medial branch nerve blocks. This special type of nerve block keeps your nerves from sending pain signals between your joints and brain by way of an injection. It can be used to pinpoint your diagnosis or treat your pain.

If you’re facing chronic pain due to accident-related nerve damage or complex regional pain syndrome, you may benefit from a spinal cord stimulator. 

During this treatment, a generator sends mild electrical impulses to your spine through an electrode. As your pain reduces, you may be better able to partake in physical therapy, which can further benefit your healing and quality of life.

To learn more about pain management after a truck accident injury or get the care you need, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment.