Taking Care Of Yourself After A Motorcycle Accident

You must be in awe of the biker gangs in the latest TV series you watched. Those rugged looks, biker jackets, and life on the streets may sound fantastic, but motorcycles are risky.

In 2020 alone, the United States had 88,000 motorcycle accident injuries. The often uncontrollable momentum of a motorcycle at high speeds, the possibility of imbalance as the rider maneuvers their ride through other vehicles, and not wearing safety gear are common reasons for motorcycle injuries.

In case of a crash, your body is exposed and in direct contact, which makes motorcycle injuries especially dangerous.

If you have a motorcycle injury and are unsure what to do next, we are here to help! Take good care of yourself after the injury and consider legal action against the individuals responsible for the accident. Consider hiring the best personal injury lawyer to maximize your chances of winning a lawsuit.

Focus on your injuries and allow yourself to heal before you ride a bike again. This article will cover everything you need to know about caring for yourself after a motorcycle accident.

Possible Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident

A motorcycle accident can cause different injuries depending on the area of impact and the accident’s severity. Some possible injuries a motorcycle accident can cause include:

1. Road Rash

Road rash refers to a superficial skin injury. If you have a minor accident, you will likely only get road rash. It is a wound caused by friction burn or abrasion of the outermost skin layer. In severe cases, road cash can cause a significant portion of the skin to peel off. And may require skin grafting surgery.

While road rash is generally not severe, you must not ignore it. Skin is your first layer of defense against pathogens, and its injury leaves you vulnerable to infections. Roads are not sterile, and a road rash can often leave you infected, which can take time to heal.

Apply an antibiotic cream on the area and ensure you have received all necessary vaccinations. If the injury persists, you develop a persistent fever, or the wound keeps bleeding, go for a medical check-up.

2. Bone Fracture

If you fall from a moving motorcycle, you can fracture your bone. A fractured bone gets inflamed, and you will need a doctor to put it in a cast and allow yourself to rest so the bone can mend.

The entire process can take anywhere from six to eight weeks, but the exact duration varies from person to person and depends on the bone and the fracture type. In extreme cases, a surgeon might need to operate on you to allow the fracture to heal. While in mild fractures, your physician can realign your bone by hand in their clinic and send you home to rest.

3. Spinal Cord Injury

You may develop a spinal cord injury if your back sustains damage in an accident. Spinal cord injuries are dangerous and come with a risk of paralysis as your spinal cord controls movements of your lower body. Spinal cord injury is classified according to the level of sensation left in your limbs.

According to the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale, a grade A spinal cord injury leaves you unable to feel or move limbs. Less severe spinal cord injury, such as grade B, retains feeling in your limbs but leaves you unable to move them. Grade C and D injuries allow limited movement in your limbs. If you think your spinal cord is damaged, visit a doctor as soon as possible. 

Taking Care Of Yourself After Injury

If you have had a recent motorcycle injury, you must take care of yourself. Allow yourself to heal and gain strength before you go biking again. Here’s what you should do as you recover from your injury:

A. Seek Medical Attention

It can be tempting to think you can deal with your injury alone, especially if it is a minor one. Always go to a doctor after a motorcycle accident, even if it is minor, like road rash.

Your physician can give you appropriate medical advice and ensure you do not get an infection or a long-term problem. Discuss your injury in detail with your doctor and ask relevant questions.

B. Consider Physical Therapy

Motorcycle accidents can lead to poor limb movement for some time. While you will regain your limb function on your own if you don’t have a severe injury, you can accelerate the process by getting physical therapy.

Physical therapy can help manage your pain and facilitate regaining your limb function and movement. While many individuals ignore or choose not to get physical therapy after getting into an accident, your pain will subside with a few sessions of physical therapy without needing analgesics or NSAIDs. While you will still make a full recovery without getting physical therapy, consider it if you don’t want to prolong your recovery phase.

C. Eat and Sleep Properly

Having a good diet and sleep cycle is crucial to healing. Do not overburden yourself as you recover; focus on self-care and rest. Eat foods that can promote wound healing, such as ones rich in vitamin C. Our body needs vitamin C for collagen metabolism, which is an essential pathway in wound healing.

It is also anti-inflammatory and so helps heal wounds by reducing inflammation. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and papaya are rich in vitamin C and can help heal your body.

Ensure you take a balanced diet and incorporate proteins, fats, and carbohydrates so your body has all the nutrients it needs to heal. Sleep on time and for eight hours, so your body is well rested during this process.

Endnote

Motorcycle accident injuries depend upon the accident severity and can range from minor road rash to spinal cord injuries. As you recover from a motorcycle injury, prioritize self-care.

Eat healthily, maintain your sleep cycle, and get physical therapy. See your doctor to ensure your wounds are healing just fine. If your injuries are due to someone else’s fault, consider suing them with the help of a personal injury lawyer.

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