Don’t let the label “
soft tissue injury” fool you. This type of injury can be anything but soft when it comes to the pain it can cause. The main difference between a soft tissue injury and an injury such as a broken leg is that many soft tissue injuries cannot be seen.
What Is A Soft Tissue Injury?
Soft tissue injuries are injuries to the soft areas of the body, such as ligaments, tendons, skin, and muscles. There are soft tissue injuries that are visible on the skin, such as lacerations that can lead to blood loss and contusions that can lead to bruising. In a car accident, the main type of soft tissue injuries include those that are not visible, such as sprains, strains, and muscle tears. This type of injury does not present itself in an X-ray or other diagnostic tool in the same way that a broken bone does. The pain, however, can be just as severe.
The Most Common Soft Tissue Injury In A Car Accident
The most common type of soft tissue injury after a car accident is whiplash. The medical term for whiplash is cervical strain/sprain or hyperextension injury. When your vehicle is struck from behind, the collision forces your head to move back and forth in a quick and violent manner. Symptoms of whiplash include stiff neck, sharp neck pain, back pain, and problems with memory and concentration. Whiplash symptoms are usually minor immediately following the accident, but become progressively worse. See a doctor as soon as symptoms begin, no matter how minor.
Other Types Of Unseen Injuries
Other types of soft tissue injuries can include muscle pain and knots in the chest and back, or sprains in the joints of the wrists, shoulders, elbows, and ankles. Symptoms can be difficult to pin down and can vary from person to person and day to day.
Some of the common symptoms of soft tissue injuries include: • Pain
• Stiffness
• Limited range of motion
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Popping or snapping feelings (or sounds)
MRI’s, CT scans, and X-rays can show broken bones, damaged organs, and brain injuries clearly; not so with sprains, strains, and tears. The fact that soft tissue injuries are difficult to see makes it imperative that you seek a doctor to document your pain and to provide treatment. The doctor may prescribe muscle relaxing medication, physical therapy, or even immobilization based on the type of injury and severity.
Recovering Your Damages
Soft tissue injuries can be a difficult challenge when it comes to recovering damages after a car accident. They might not be as debilitating as a brain injury, but they can cost thousands of dollars in medical bills, multiple hours in treatment, and many months to heal. If someone else caused your soft tissue injury, you deserve to get back all that you have lost. The medical records from your doctor will be stronger proof than just your word. Keep records of all of your diagnostics and treatments, as well as a log of symptoms and pain, to support your case and get the compensation you deserve.
