Millions of people are injured each year, with the causes ranging from slip and falls to accidents in sports. If you find yourself injured, whether it's your fault or not, it's important to know how to handle the situation. By using the tips below, you can minimize the risk of the injury getting worse while receiving the care you need. While every injury may be different, it's still important to handle the situation properly for peace of mind.
1. Determine the Severity of the Injury
Some injuries are more severe than others, which is why it's important to analyze the situation before making your next move. If you can move around but are simply in pain, then it's unlikely that you'll need to call an ambulance. However, if you are in dire pain and need immediate medical care, then calling 911 for an ambulance is critical. Although it's true that the cost of calling an ambulance is higher, the quick response time and paramedics on-site could save your life, which makes it worth it to call.
If you decide not to call an ambulance over, then have a friend or family member take you to receive medical care. Although you may think you're fine to drive, doing so could put yourself and other drivers in danger. It's always best to have someone else take care of you when you need it the most.
2. Decide Where You'll Go
For life-threatening injuries or severe wounds, you should go to the emergency room right away. For injuries that are less severe and don't put you at risk of losing a limb or your life, a trip to urgent care may be a better choice. Visits to urgent care facilities may be more affordable but that won't come at the cost of lackluster care. These facilities still have licensed nurses and doctors that are well-trained to help you.
If you're worried that you're going to need surgery, don't stress out before you receive the care that you need. Doctors at Edgewood Surgical Hospital recommend letting your doctor decide what comes next. Their expertise and guidance will ensure your injury is handled in the appropriate manner. Although this can be stressful, surgical doctors are highly trained and can make a dramatic difference in your ability to recover.
3. Take Photos
If you have been injured from an accident or someone else's negligence, then it's important to take photos of the injury. However, this can be difficult if you're in pain or aren't able to grab your phone. In this situation, ask someone else to take a few pictures so you have evidence of what the injuries looked like from the start. Photos should also be taken of the scene if you've been in an accident.
4. Listen to Your Doctor
When you receive care for your injury, it's important to listen closely to what your doctor has to say. They will give you information about the severity of the injury, what the diagnosis is, and whether or not surgery is required. They will also give you information about what you can do for recovery and whether or not you'll need physical therapy in the future. You'll receive a lot of information in a short amount of time so you may want to have a friend or family member there to listen in.
If you have questions or concerns, then don't be afraid to address them right away. Your doctor will give you personalized advice for your situation, which is much more useful than anything you can read online. Also, ask for a phone number to reach them in the future so you have help when you need it.
5. Schedule Your Procedure
Not all injuries require immediate surgery, which is why you may have to schedule an appointment with a surgeon. If this is something that's in store for your future, then make sure you have help surrounding you for the operation. This may mean a friend or family member to drive you and someone to stay at home to help you recover. While it's true that surgery can be scary, it's still necessary for many injuries. The last thing you should do is put it off, especially if it's a critical step in healing.
6. Take Recovery Seriously
One mistake many patients make is doing too much while they are recovering from their injury. While you may feel fine and like you can do everything you did before, this is very unlikely to be the case. Listen to what your doctor says in terms of recovery so you don't push your body too far. This will help you avoid the risk of worsening your injury while helping to ensure you avoid unnecessary pain. If you require physical therapy, then it's important to maintain these appointments to facilitate a smoother recovery. Always speak candidly with your physical therapist to see how you're doing and what you can be doing to improve your progress.
7. Work With Insurance
When it comes to dealing with an injury, you'll need to work with your insurance company to ensure that everything is paid for on time. If you were in an accident that wasn't your fault, then the other party's insurance should cover your bills. However, in some situations, a lawsuit may be necessary in order to receive compensation for your injuries. Since every situation is different, you'll want to decide what's best based on what circumstances surrounding your injuries.
8. Return for Follow-Up Appointments
In the medical world, follow-up appointments are crucial for a healthy recovery from an injury. Even if you had a simple surgery or your injury wasn't as severe as others, this doesn't mean your body will automatically recover. You will still need to return to meet with your doctor so they can do a physical exam and make sure everything is going smoothly. During these appointments, you can address any of your concerns and ask questions, which makes them even more useful to your recovery.
Should You Worry About Your Health?
After an injury, many individuals begin to worry about their health. However, this can increase stress and make it difficult to effectively heal. To ease your mind, talk to your doctor or surgeon about what you should be doing for your health. For most individuals, this will mean eating healthier, taking vitamins, and exercising in a way that won't result in injury. Being healthy is more important than ever when your body is healing, so make it a priority in your life each day. By doing so, you may be able to recover from the injury more quickly.
What If You Never Feel the Same?
If you don't feel right even after you've passed your recovery time, then schedule an appointment to discuss this with your doctor. While it's true that some injuries never heal 100%, there are many things you can do to improve pain and discomfort. By being open about how you feel and making it a priority to be healthy, you'll have a greater chance of getting your body back to normal.
What If You Were Injured at Work?
If you were injured while on the job, then your employer should be paying for your medical bills as well as time off of work. However, in order to receive these benefits, you must report the accident immediately. If you wait, then your employer may have the opportunity to deny your claim in the future. If they refuse to pay out even if you did follow all of the rules, then you may need to hire a lawyer and place a lawsuit against them. Fortunately, the majority of companies do the right thing, so you shouldn't be worried about this being your only option.
Making Your Injury a Priority
Even if you're in a situation where your injury isn't life-threatening, you should still seek help as soon as possible. You could end up needing to have surgery or you could have an infection that is otherwise unknown to you. If you choose not to seek help as soon as possible, it's easy for these issues to get worse. Do yourself and your health a favor by talking to a doctor as soon as possible. This is especially true if you are in pain and aren't able to do things as you normally would.
While recovery can be a long road, even for a seemingly simple injury, it's still important. Make it something you adopt into your lifestyle and it's very likely that you'll see improvements in the near future. However, if you run into problems along the way, don't hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor. There are many procedures, medications, and physical therapies out there today that can heal the body quickly and effectively. Lastly, if you are having a hard time with recovery, lean on friends and family for support. Their help can help make the process easier by allowing you to focus on healing rather than cleaning up the house or running errands.
