Trauma and Aggravation of Pre-Existing Arthritis
A recent study published by Arthritis indicated that arthritis is the leading cause of disability in older adults in the entire country. Furthermore, if an individual has arthritis and is subsequently involved in a traumatic accident, his or her conditions could be made worse. According to statistics from Arthritis:
- About one out of every six individuals in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis.
- Nearly 300,000 individuals under the age of 18 also suffer from arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, impacting more than 30 million individuals.
- By 2040, close to 80 million people are estimated to receive a diagnosis of arthritis.
- Arthritis is more common in women than in men.
- Between 60 and 70 percent of adults with arthritis in the United States are still of working age.
- Arthritis is among the top five most costly medical conditions in the United States.
These numbers show that arthritis is among the most common reasons why someone visits the doctor. It is essential to understand how a traumatic accident impacts someone who has arthritis.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the term used to describe inflammation of the joints in the body. There are many different types of arthritis which impact people of different ages. All of these can range in severity from relatively minor to debilitating. Arthritis can cause pain throughout one or more joints and can make it hard to do everyday activities such as attend school, go to work, and do chores around the house.
The joints are cushioned by cartilage. The job of the cartilage is to keep the bones from rubbing together. If bones rub together, this friction creates pain. This is the pain that people with arthritis feel. In some cases, arthritis develops gradually over time as the cartilaginous cushion gets worn down. In other cases, an autoimmune reaction can cause the body’s immune system to damage the joints directly.
People with arthritis have several different treatment options. These range from anti-inflammatory medications, such as Tylenol and Motrin, to immunosuppressive drugs. Some individuals with arthritis might even require surgery.
How is Arthritis Impacted by a Traumatic Accident?
People who have arthritis might notice that their pain waxes and wanes over time. Sometimes, their pain might be a minor nuisance while in other cases their pain could make it hard to sleep, eat, and wake up in the morning. In many cases, their pain gets worse during a stressful situation.
Following an auto accident, their arthritis might become more severe. For example, they may have suffered additional injuries in the accident, such as bone fractures or ligament tears, that only add to their mobility problems. Furthermore, the body often responds to a severe crash with an inflammatory response. For those with arthritis, this just makes their pain worse. It is easy to see how this can make it difficult for an individual with arthritis to recover.
Contacting an Injury Lawyer
If people have been diagnosed with arthritis, they likely have chronic pain stemming from their inflammatory condition. If their arthritis is made worse following an auto accident, this can create an additional quality of life issue. Under these circumstances, it is important to reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer in Sacramento for assistance. Some of the ways that an injury lawyer can help include:
- Serving as an objective professional who can help families make tough decisions during a difficult situation.
- Helping families pursue damages related to their emotional pain, suffering, or medical injuries.
- Filing the case with the court system, if needed.
These are important issues for which families should seek help. Take some time to talk with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. You and your loved ones could be entitled to a financial reward.
Sacramento Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney. Arthritis can make it difficult to go to work, attend school, or even get out of bed in the morning. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Trauma and Aggravation of Pre-Existing Arthritis: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/ Trauma and Aggravation of Pre-Existing Arthritis.
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