Sudden impact trauma, whether it’s from falling from a height, a collision or other mishap, is a life-altering event. Besides the pain and whatever disability follows, sudden impact trauma can be shockingly expensive monetarily. You may need the services of an experienced team of personal injury attorneys, like those at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC. Here are some of the things your body does right after a sudden impact trauma. Some of them may surprise you.
Types of Sudden Impact Trauma
When you experience sudden impact trauma, the first thing that happens is that an object, such as your car, bicycle or motorcycle, collides with another object, such as another car. The energy from this causes your own body to strike the interior components of your car such as your steering wheel, your dashboard or your airbag. If you’re on a bike or motorcycle, you can be violently thrown to the road, a nearby tree or lamp post or down a hill. The energy then passes to your internal organs, which can slam into your skeletal bones or rupture.
Initial Reaction
Your body’s initial reaction to a sudden impact trauma may seem to be nothing at all. This is because the surge of adrenaline and cortisol in your body masks the shock and pain for a while. You may even feel a burst of energy as these hormones are released. Your body then sets up an inflammation response. Your blood vessels open up to get blood to the injured area to repair it. You’ll notice the area is red, warm and swollen. Your muscles may also tighten around the injury to discourage you from moving around too much and interfering with the healing process.
When the adrenaline wears off, the pain the hormones suppressed comes roaring back and can linger long after the initial trauma. You may tremble from chills and feel enervated. Your heart starts to race, and your breathing rate increases. Other reactions that can occur, sometimes well after the mishap, include continued exhaustion, headaches, nausea, insomnia and dizziness.
The Body Starts To Heal
Right after the sudden impact, the body tries to heal any wounds, whether they’re external or internal. Your blood vessels narrow, and clots form. Though external bleeding is obvious, internal bleeding is tougher to find and may be overlooked. If you’ve suffered internal bleeding from the impact, here are some signs and symptoms you might notice.
- Bruises, especially on the neck, chest or abdomen
- Bleeding or fluid from the ears or nose
- Vomiting blood. The blood may look like coffee grounds.
- Swollen abdomen
- Abdomen so painful that you may curl up to guard it
- Blood from nether regions
- Broken bones
Shock
There may be no signs of internal bleeding, which is why it’s imperative for you to be taken to a hospital and evaluated by a health care professional. Heavy internal bleeding can lead to shock. There are different types of shock, but it generally means that you’ve lost so much blood after the event that your cardiovascular system fails. Here are some signs and symptoms of shock.
- Thirst
- Anxiety
- Feeling cold
- Irascibility
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Rapid, weak pulse
- Ashen or pale skin
- Heavy sweating starting at the extremities
- Crashing blood pressure
Medical care should happen within what health professionals call “the golden hour.” This is the first hour after the sudden impact trauma occurs. If you get medical assistance during this time, your chances of surviving shock improve.
Long-Term Responses
Your body may experience long-term responses to the trauma. You may become hypervigilant and expect the accident to occur again. You may suffer from insomnia or nightmares, and you can be subject to anxiety or panic attacks. Your muscles may also remain tense, your appetite can be affected, and you may experience chronic pain. Lessening or preventing these symptoms is why it’s important to receive timely care for both your body and your mind.
