Whiplash is a serious, painful condition that impacts the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. It often occurs after a car accident, as the head whips back and forth due to the force. Whiplash has numerous implications and can impact a person’s ability to breathe properly, creating potential risks to overall well-being and health, which is why you need to talk to an Okemos car accident lawyer from White Law PLLC.
How Whiplash Affects Breathing After a Car Accident
In serious instances of whiplash, the accident can tear the soft tissues located in the chest. These ligaments link to both the ribs and spine, helping to support the body’s movement and function. In some situations, this damage, along with a few other complications, can lead to respiratory distress.
You may notice it initially with coughing or having a hard time catching your breath. You may have pain with each breath. Sometimes the pain will come and go.
Immediately after the car accident, you may be feeling intense pain and pressure. Your heart is racing, making breathing hard to manage. That should subside when you are able to get care and calm down. However, after this, you may experience continued breathing distress that should never be ignored.
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Common Reasons Whiplash Impacts Breathing
There are several factors that can contribute to breathing problems after a car accident. Every case warrants care. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek out help from the emergency room right away.
- Chest trauma and fractures: In some situations, whiplash can be so severe it causes fractures to the ribs. This is most likely to occur in situations where there is an impact on the windshield or steering wheel. Tiny pieces of bone can lodge into the lungs, making it painful to breathe.
- Damage to the cervical spine: The cervical spine is commonly stretched during whiplash injuries, and in some situations, damage can occur. Since this area is where your breathing happens, any change in the function of this area can make breathing challenging. If any obstruction of the airway occurs, this can lead to an immediate medical emergency.
- Nerve damage: Nerves send messages from the brain to various areas of the body to work. If nerves in this area are impacted, due to the injury, that may mean that your brain’s communication with your lungs is limited. This can make coughing or breathing in general difficult to do.
Also note that, in many situations, breathing complications and pain, including throughout the chest, occur because of the damage to the ligaments and muscles in this area after whiplash. In order for breathing to occur, the ligaments must be in the proper position as the spine must. If there are any changes to the positioning, muscle inflammation occurs, or strain is significantly stretching these ligaments, it can make breathing more challenging.
Muscle Pain Can Be Due to Whiplash
If you have neck pain from whiplash, it can impact how well your lungs can function. Muscle strength, muscle endurance, range of motion of the cervical spine, and overall function of the ligaments can all limit your body’s natural ability to breathe. Every breath inward can hurt.
Signs You Have Respiratory Distress from Whiplash
It is very common to feel pain and discomfort after a car accident, but recognizing the signs of whiplash that relate to breathing is more challenging. Do not write off any pain and discomfort you have to that you are sore until you are checked out and cleared by an emergency room doctor. Common signs that you may be experiencing breathing-related complications include:
- Inability to catch your breath
- Pain when breathing in or outward
- Rapid, shallow respiration
- Coughing that’s ineffective or nonproductive
- Pain that seems to be deep within your lungs
- Onset of pulmonary infection
- Difficulty sleeping due to trouble breathing or waking up to adjust
In each of these situations, it is critical to seek medical care as your first step. In some situations, you may experience related symptoms such as dizziness or fainting or may develop cramping in the neck and rib area due to straining from breathing or coughing. Some people also develop serious weakness and exhaustion from the lack of oxygen.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Short-Term Treatment for Breathing Problems from Whiplash
If you cannot catch your breath or are finding it hard to move, think, or function due to being short of breath, seek immediate care at the emergency room. Your doctor is likely to provide a full assessment and pinpoint any obstruction present. You may need X-rays and bloodwork to determine what is occurring.
In rare situations, surgery to remove obstructions or alter the functionality of muscles may be necessary. If severe nerve damage is present due to whiplash, that may require neurological assessments. Your doctors will work to stabilize your breathing, often with inpatient care and oxygen before determining the best care plan.
If your symptoms are mild, call your doctor. Determine what they expect for you to do. You can also visit the ER to be safe.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Long-Term Treatment for Breathing Problems from Whiplash
Many times, whiplash can heal with rest and physical therapy. This could ultimately improve breathing-related pain and discomfort. It is critical to follow the recommendations of your doctor.
They may require you to use oxygen at home for a period of time. You may need to work with a physical therapist or chiropractor to improve the function and alignment of the cervical vertebrae. Specialized treatment may be necessary to restore lung function.
Over time, this condition can improve. The severity of the injury and the type of treatment you obtain often determines what your outcome will be. The key to recovery is to get all of the care you need, including from specialists.
Do Not Overlook the Emotional Trauma from Breathing Distress Due to Whiplash
Though whiplash is very much a physical change in the body that causes injury, it also can be terrifying to struggle to breathe. Difficulty breathing can create emotional trauma and stress for a prolonged period of time. Many people suffer from emotional distress because they struggle with the pain of breathing during activity and sleeping.
A lack of good sleep can worsen this. Ongoing pain can, too. Do not overlook these symptoms of distress.
If you have any changes in your ability to breathe or the way you feel when breathing, seek out medical attention immediately. Whiplash can take time to develop, often worsening over the period of several days before all symptoms are noticeable. It is never a good thing to ignore these signs.
Contact Our Legal Team for Immediate Help
If a car accident caused your whiplash, you may be eligible for compensation for any of these medical costs. Contact White Law PLLC for immediate help and guidance. Let us fight for full compensation for you, and be sure to read through our case results to learn more.
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