Even if there is only a suspicion of injury, it is important that you seek immediate treatment after an auto accident in Venice. There are two compelling reasons for this. First, people who catch their injuries earlier usually have better prognoses. Second, Florida law has some specific terms that incentivize early reporting of emergency medical conditions. You generally only have 14 days to seek medical attention if you intend to claim no-fault accident coverage in this state. Some conditions may start immediately after an auto accident and then get worse over time. This could take days — or even weeks in some cases. Please do not delay.

Identifying the Car Accident Injury

The first step in improving any condition is making an informed diagnosis. For joint and soft tissue injuries from auto collisions, the cause of pain or other symptoms is not always immediately obvious. It is true that rest, special exercises, and heat or cold therapy could address certain injuries, but it is safest by far to allow a professional to make that determination.

In order to provide appropriate treatment, your doctor might give you a short interview in addition to some physical tests. Here are some questions you may want to prepare to answer:

• What is the level of your pain, from 1 to 10?
• Which motions, if any, are you having trouble performing?
• How would you describe any pain symptoms you have — burning, stabbing, and so on?
• Do you have any pain that seems to travel or shoot from one part of your body to another?
• Where are you experiencing symptoms in your body?

These questions, along with the results from observing your range of motion, inform the initial diagnosis. They also provide a starting point from which to track your progress as your condition improves.

Finding Solutions

In addition to treatment, most joint injuries represent the need for a significant temporary lifestyle change. Effective therapy plans consider all aspects of the injuries’ impact on a patient’s health. For example, you may receive a recommendation to avoid certain types of food, to eliminate certain activities, or to otherwise modify aspects of your daily life. This is all part of a unique plan to preserve your health and speed your recovery.

Working Towards Recovery From Your Car Accident Injury

You may be able to start working on improving your condition immediately following your first appointment. A therapist might teach you some specialized exercises to reduce your symptoms while providing your initial treatments. Of course, these exercises would depend on the type of injury you have.

Over the course of your treatment, you may receive recommendations for further testing or a referral to a specialist. Although the specifics change from case to case, you should always expect a highly personalized level of service and a careful review of your unique injury.

At PhysMed, we are committed to making our center a place where people come to heal and improve their lives through personalized service, evidence-based treatment, and a priority on non-invasive procedures. Call us at (941) 921-4884 to schedule your initial consultation.