When a person thinks of car accidents in New Orleans, soft tissue injuries may not immediately come to mind. These injuries affect the fleshy parts of the body, specifically the ligaments, tendons and muscles. In fact, soft tissue trauma is very common in car accidents. Many people dismiss it as minor, but not all soft tissue trauma is merely soreness and bruises. Many motor vehicle collision victims suffer severe tissue injuries that require medical care to keep them from becoming worse.
It is important for victims to get medical treatment right after a car accident, even if they only feel a little sore. Some soft tissue injuries can be very serious and cause life-threatening complications if they are not treated immediately. Here is a brief overview of soft tissue injuries that people are likely to suffer in a car accident.
Symptoms may indicate soft tissue injuries
Due to the sudden and forceful impact of car accidents, victims tend to experience trauma to their muscles, ligaments and tendons. They may have trouble using and moving their legs hands, arms, backs and necks in the days and weeks after their accidents. Common signs of soft tissue injuries include:
- Muscle stiffness
- Soreness
- Pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Trouble bearing weight on the affected area
Some serious soft tissue wounds are not obvious. Many victims initially experience minor to mild soreness only to develop severe pain, deep bruising and trouble using the affected limb/body part in the days and weeks to come.
Immediate treatment can prevent poor outcome
Some tissue injuries resolve on their own, but those that are severe often require medical intervention and can take months to years to heal. Some people who end up with injuries to their muscles, ligaments and tendons become temporarily or permanently disabled. Often, the longer it takes for proper diagnosis and treatment to occur, the greater the chances for a poor prognosis.
The frequency of car accidents makes it likely that most people may be in one at some point in their lives. It is a good idea for victims to seek medical attention and monitor how they feel in the hours and weeks after the incident, reporting any new or lingering pain, soreness and bruising they have to their physician.
