Tips for identifying the symptoms that come with a concussion.

It is no secret that our head is an extremely important, fragile part of our body. Not only does it house some of our primary sense organs such as our eyes, nose, ears and mouth, but it also plays home to our brain―perhaps the single most important, complex organ in our body. Because of all of the important functions that are taking place both on and in our heads, any injuries caused to this part of our body are always taken extremely seriously.

Unfortunately, when it comes to car accidents, there are endless possibilities when it comes to head injuries. Whether you are involved in a simple fender bender or a serious car crash, there are many different ways in which you could sustain severe impact to the head, such as hitting the windshield, being blown back by the airbag, hitting the steering wheel, suffering from whiplash, etc.

Whenever a person’s head is violently thrown back or impacts an internal part of the vehicle during an automobile accident, there is a chance of developing closed head injuries, such as a concussion. While many concussions will heal over time and not cause any permanent damage to the victim, there is also a possibility that it could lead to more serious injuries such as bleeding or swelling in the brain.

Because concussions are very hard to diagnose, given the fact that there may be no visible external injury that indicates head trauma, it is important that you recognize the signs and symptoms of these common auto-accident injuries so that you know when it is time to see a medical professional.

What Is A Concussion?

A head concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that can be caused by impact to the head or body, a fall, or an automobile accident that jars and shakes the brain inside of the skull. With rest and proper care, most people will fully recover from a concussion within a few hours or days. However, severe concussions may require surgery or may even lead to complex problems with learning, speaking and movement.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms Of A Concussion?

You do not have to lose consciousness or have visible injuries in order to suffer from a concussion. In fact, most people suffer from subtle, unnoticeable changes that may be a result of head trauma. The symptoms of a concussion can basically boil down into four main categories:

If you have been involved in an automobile accident and have the signs and symptoms of a concussion, be sure to seek the advice of a medical professional immediately. Sall Myers Medical Associates can not only help you with your treatment, but also determine just how minor or severe your head injury may be. While a concussion is not typically a life threatening injury, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

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How muscle relaxers work and when you should use them for your injury.

Whenever you are involved in an automobile accident―no matter how small or how serious―there is a chance of injury that stems from being in a crash. Sometimes these injuries can be serious, such as head trauma or broken bones, other times it could be something more minimal such as frequent back pain which keeps you up at night. No matter what type of injury you sustain from an auto accident, one thing is for sure: you want to get rid of the pain as soon as possible.

There are many non-drug therapies that people will often utilize to get relief from injuries sustained from an automobile accident. Some of these may include heating pads, over-the-counter pain relievers, massage therapy or even stretching exercises. While many of these alternatives can help to lessen pain temporarily, it can sneak up again as soon as you are finished with the activity.

When simple therapy does not work to relieve pain caused by an auto accident, many people will often turn to muscle relaxers. These prescription pain relievers typically involve a diverse set of drugs that specifically treat muscle pain and spasms involved in back pain, neck pain, headaches or fibromyalgia.

However, while muscle relaxers can help you to ease the tension in your body and make progress towards recovery, they should be used with caution. Many of these medications cause sedation as a side effect, which can increase a person’s risk of other accidents or further problems.

Because muscle relaxers are such as serious medication, we have put together a few points about how these relaxers work and when you should consider using them for your injury.

How Do Muscle Relaxers Work?

Whenever a person receives some kind of muscle injury, it can lead to pain, stiffness and muscle spasms, which may interfere with their day-to-day activities. Muscle relaxants work to ease the pain of muscle injury by acting on the central nervous system. However, it is important to know that these medications will not heal the injuries caused by a car accident, instead they help to ease discomfort and stop muscle pain.

Most muscle relaxers will be prescribed along with physical therapy, rest, exercise or other types of treatments by a medical doctor. While these medications may help you to feel better, it is important that you do not go back to normal activity right away, as it may actually worsen your injuries. Instead, work with your doctor on a treatment plan which will ease your body back into the swing of things.

What Are The Side Effects?

Muscle relaxers primarily focus on the bodies central nervous system, therefore they can cause effects such as blurred vision, lightheadedness, drowsiness, dizziness, etc. Because of these common side effects, it is extremely important that you do not do anything physical or dangerous when taking muscle relaxers, such as operating machinery or lifting heavy objects.

If you have been involved in an automobile accident and are interested in learning more about muscle relaxers for your injuries, be sure to contact Sall Myers Medical Associates. We can not only help to determine the treatment and recovery options that are best for you and your body, but we can also ensure that you are on the fastest, healthiest road to recovery possible.

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Information about car crashes that involve injured pedestrians.

Every single year, hundreds of thousands of people will become injured as a result of an automobile accident. Whether it was a minor accident such as a fender bender, a serious crash between two or more cars, or someone who was speeding and swerved off of the road, auto accidents can result in broken bones, serious injury or even death to someone involved.

When most of us picture an automobile accident, we usually think of an occurrence between two or more vehicles. However, a good majority of car accidents and auto injuries occur between cars and pedestrians, rather than car verse car. In fact, nearly 64,000 auto accident injuries happen to pedestrians every single year.

Pedestrian auto accidents are especially serious because there is a high potential for serious injury and death, mostly because the victim’s body takes a good majority of the vehicle’s impact during an auto accident. Therefore, even accidents that occur at low speeds can result in serious injuries to any pedestrians who are involved.

These accidents can result in injury from a variety of different factors. In a pedestrian accident study performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was discovered that 40% of pedestrian injuries resulted from contact with the vehicle, 32% resulted from contact with the ground, and 26% resulted from contact with unknown objects.

To learn a little bit more about the seriousness of pedestrian automobile accidents, here is some basic information about the causes of pedestrian auto injuries, as well as the different problems that may occur as a result:

How Do Car Pedestrian Accidents Occur?

The reason behind pedestrian auto accidents can be divided into two basic categories:  pedestrian error and driver error. Unfortunately, in both cases, negligence is usually the most common factor.

Some common examples of pedestrian errors in auto accidents include:

- Failure to obey traffic control signals

- Running into traffic in pursuit of something (a child, a toy, an object blowing in the wind, etc.)

- Attempting to cross major highways or freeways

- Jaywalking

Some common examples of driver errors in pedestrian auto accidents include:

- Inattentive or pre-occupied drivers

- Failure to yield to the right of pedestrians at cross walks

- Disregarding crosswalks

- Driving under the influence

Injuries From Pedestrian Auto Accidents

Whenever a pedestrian is involved in an automobile accident, no matter how big or how small, they are at risk for several different serious injuries. Most pedestrians are struck from the front during an auto accident, therefore they typically sustain injuries to their head, legs and arms. However, other serious bodily injuries can occur from a car crash, including a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, a coma, fractured bones, and much more.

If you find that you have been seriously injured as a result of an automobile accident―whether you were a car passenger, a driver or a pedestrian―it is important to seek medical help for you injuries to ensure that they do not turn into something more serious in the future. Contact Sall Myer Medical Associates to set up an appointment today and make sure that your auto accident injury is put behind you once and for all.

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When it comes to automobile accidents, there are many different types of injuries that you may sustain, depending on the severity and the cause of the crash. Minor bumps or fender benders may result in a couple of bruises or sprains to your back or legs, while more severe crashes could lead to a number of different injuries, including a concussion or possible broken bones.

However, there is one specific type of injury that is far from accident-specific when it comes to car crashes―whiplash. Whether you were going under 15 mph when you were hit, or you were involved in a multi-car, brutal accident, your chances of developing whiplash are the same. In fact, any impact or blow that causes your head to jerk forward or backward can lead to signs and symptoms of whiplash.

While many people who suffer from whiplash will typically recover in just a few weeks time, nearly 15% to 20% of patients may end up developing chronic pain from the incident, sometimes weeks or even months after the accident occurred.

The pain of whiplash is often very hard to ignore. Symptoms may include pain, decreased range of motion, tightness in the neck, knotted muscles and tenderness around the neck and shoulders.

Luckily, most chronic pain caused by whiplash can be easily treated from the comfort of your own home. But, just in case, we have put together several different ways in which you can decrease the pain caused by whiplash, as well as when you should consider seeing a doctor if the pain becomes too severe.

Ice and Heat

In the first few days following your injury, ice packs can help to reduce swollen, overstretched muscles and ligaments, while also reducing initial pain caused by whiplash. Be sure to wrap up ice in a towel to protect your skin, then apply it to the injury for 15 minutes every two or three hours. After a few days of icing, you can begin to apply moist heat to your neck with a towel to increase circulation and ease the tightness of stiff muscles.

Rest

One of the best ways to heal your pain and symptoms of whiplash is to go easy in your day to day activities and get some rest. Staying still and not carrying out any difficult movements will help alleviate the initial pain and spasm of the neck muscles, while also helping to prevent any further stiffness.

Medication

If your doctor agrees, try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to help with any pain or tenderness that does not subside in the first few days following your accident. Drugs such as Advil, Aleve or Motrin should help with the pain and swelling. However, make sure that you are not using any medication unless your doctor specifically stated that you should.

When To Seek Serious Medical Treatment

If your symptoms begin to worsen, instead of steadily getting better, or if you begin to develop headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing or numbness, be sure to seek out medical assistance right away. Your doctor will be able to perform a full medical examination to ensure that your whiplash has not progressed into anything more serious and that you are on the right path to recovery.

If you or someone you know has suffered from signs of whiplash following a severe automobile accident, be sure to contact Sall Myers Medical Associates today to ensure that your injury is in good hands and you are well on your way to improved health and a smooth recovery.

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When it comes to the different dangers that we constantly face when on the road, you would be surprised by just how many of crashes and fender benders can be avoided simply by putting 100% of our attention on the road and taking preventative measures against distractions.

Whether you are someone who is constantly playing radio roulette trying to find the perfect song for your drive, or you constantly need to be chatting away on the phone, it’s important to remember that distracted driving attributes to more auto accidents than crashes that occur as a result of poor weather.

However, when it comes to automobile accidents caused by distractions, there is one single activity that is responsible for more than 18% of distraction-related driving fatalities in America alone―texting while driving.

Sure, you have probably seen the shocking commercials, billboard advertisements and magazine articles that explain just how much texting can negatively affect your driving abilities. However, even when faced with the brutal truth behind this dangerous activity, many people still continue to text and talk behind the wheel. And, even with all of the studies and research that produce humbling results, the number of accidents attributed to driver distraction is steadily increasing year after year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at any given time, more than ten million drivers in the United States are using cell phones. As a result, more than 21% of car crashes resulting in injury and 16% of all fatal collisions were attributed to distracted drivers.

Even worse, a new study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute which entailed outfitting the cabs of long-haul trucks with video cameras over 18 months, found that when the drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.

Luckily, many states are beginning to crack down and finally take a stand against the dangers of texting and driving. In response to safety concerns, some states, municipalities and even foreign countries have banned certain types of cell phone use while driving, such as handheld cell phone use, use of wireless phones by new driver, or texting. However, even if your state does not have any regulations against the use of cell phones while driving, you should still take precaution.

New Jersey alone has their own batch of prohibitions that help to make sure their drivers are safe every time they get on the road. Here are just a few of our state’s current restrictions against cell phones on the roadways:

-     Drivers must use hands-free devices while talking on cell phones.

-     Text messaging and use of video games prohibited while driving.

-     School bus operators prohibited from using cell phones while driving.

-     Drivers under the age of 21 with learner’s permits or probationary licenses are prohibited from using cell phones, texting devices and other hand-held or hands-free wireless electronic devices while driving (includes iPods).

While text messaging may seem like a great way to keep in touch with friends and family when you are constantly on the move, it is important to remember that driving while texting is not only dangerous for yourself and those around you, but it is also against the law.

If you or someone in your family has been injured as a result of an auto accident caused by a distracted driver, be sure to contact Sall Myers Medical Associates today to ensure that your injury does not affect your health or your future.

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When it comes to injuries sustained as a result of an automobile accident, there are many different health care scenarios and recovery plans that you may be faced with, depending on the severity of your injury. For minor bumps and bruises, your doctor may suggest simple treatment such as pain medication and lots of rest. However, for more severe automobile injuries, intricate medical procedures may be required to help your body fully heal.

One common way that that doctors will often treat severe automobile injuries is through the use of surgery. The type of surgery that your doctor suggests can vary depending on the injury, but may be as simple as exploratory or general surgery, to an emergency procedure that may be necessary to ensure a healthy recovery from your automobile accident.

However, no matter what surgery your doctor may suggest, it can be worrying and stressful trying to plan for the procedure. Not only are you giving up control of your health and well-being to your doctor, but you will most likely be under anesthetic at the time, so you will not know of the outcome until the procedure is all finished.

Luckily, there is a lot that you can do before and after your procedure to make sure your operation and recovery go as smoothly as possible. To help you prepare for your upcoming post-auto accident surgery, we have put together some basic things that you should know before going into surgery for your automobile injury:

Learn About Your Procedure

Whenever your doctor suggests surgery as a necessary procedure following an injury, you should try and learn as much as you can about what goes into the operation and why they surgery is necessary. While some people get queasy discussing the process and details of their surgical procedure, many people find that they begin to relax as they gain more and more information about what the procedure entails.

Also , make sure you inform the doctor and surgical staff about any medications you are currently taking, including nonprescription drugs, herbal supplements and vitamins. It is also very important that you fill them in on any allergies you may have.

Follow Pre-Operative Instructions

Before you go in for surgery, be sure ask your healthcare provider for written instructions describing when you should arrive, any special dietary restrictions you may have, or other necessary instructions. The days and weeks leading up to your surgery are also a good time to evaluate your diet and get your body into shape. Adding more protein and fiber into your diet will help provide your cells with the building blocks of wound healing, and the healthier you are going in, the faster your body can heal.

Prepare Yourself For Quick Recovery

Prior to your surgery, you should ask your doctor for a post-discharge checklist, which should include a rundown of postoperative prescriptions that you might need and can give you can idea of the things you can and cannot do after surgery. While your recovery plan may seems like common sense (lots of rest and physical therapy), every surgeon  has their own rules about postoperative care. Also, be sure that you are aware of how long it will be before you need to return to see your doctor again after the procedure.

Sall Myers’ staff of board certified surgeons are here for any surgery need that may arise - no matter how big or small it may seem. Click here if you would like to read more about our amazing staff of board certified surgeons. If you are in New Jersey and need surgery in from your personal injury accident, please call us at 866-609-4448 or fill out the quick contact form for FREE consultation.

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