Over the past few years, car accidents have seemingly increased. Some accidents are minor and do not require the person to go through surgery. On the other hand, you may need surgery to recover from your injuries after an accident due to multiple factors.
Why Do People Need Surgery After A Car Accident?
Right after an accident, you may feel okay. This is because of the adrenaline rush your body is going through. However, after a few days, when it starts to cool down, you will feel a change in your condition. Pains begin to emerge from different body parts. You may also feel immobile or experience a sudden change in your mind-body coordination. All these are the results of complex accident injuries. Seeking immediate medical attention after the accident is the only way to prevent yourself from the dangers of a car wreck. Here are some prevalent car accident injuries that may require surgery upon worsening:
Broken Bones
Simple fractures can easily be treated with a cast by immobilizing the bone in one place. However, complex fractures may require surgical invasion. If the same bone is broken in multiple sections or wholly crushed, you may have a complex fracture in your case.
- If a patient has complex fractures after the accident, doctors go through an invasive process to insert pins, screws, plates, and rods to keep the bone in place while it heals.
- Sometimes the muscles and tendons around the bone are severely damaged and torn beyond their capacity to self-repair. Surgery can help you repair the damage.
- Most people require a joint or hip replacement after an accident. Surgery is mandatory in this scenario to make the patient more mobile.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic injuries are more common than you think. Sometimes there are no visible symptoms, and the patients still have TBI. Suppose you are experiencing unusual changes to your fight to flight response, nervous system, and overall ability to present yourself as a composed individual right after the accident. In that case, chances are that you have TBI. This is one of the most dangerous kinds of injuries, so go to a highly professional accident injury doctor. Doctors perform surgery on such patients to:
- Repair skull damage/fractures.
- Reduce internal bleeding.
- Release pressure
- Remove blood clots and buildup
Internal Injuries
If your body hits an object really hard during the accident, it could lead to organ damage. Internal bleeding and ruptured organs are widespread among people who hit various projectiles during the crash. Surgery is not always needed for internal damage, but severe cases require surgical attention right away. You will be asked to take imaging tests on the spot. Most cases of internal injuries require surgery to:
- Remove buildup and pressure from organs
- Repair significant wear and tear that is causing a lot of blood loss
- Detect any changes in the performance of your organ
Spinal Injuries
The human spine is vulnerable to injuries. Despite being the most essential part of your body that connects everything together – it is one of the most fragile. A single blow to the spinal cord can leave you with nervous system issues and permanent damage to specific areas of your body. Accidents can cause multiple injuries such as a broken vertebra, bulging discs, torn tissues, etc. Some of the most common reasons why people get spinal surgeries:
- Relieve pressure from the spinal cord and nervous system
- Inject acrylic or cement to fill vertebra cracks
- Fusion of vertebra to stabilize your spine
Plastic Surgery
Other than fractures and injuries, many people also suffer from deformities and burns on their skin. For instance, if you fell from a motorbike on the road, it could damage and burn your skin. Most of the bruises and lacerations are challenging to fix and require surgery. Plastic surgery will help:
- Recover your skin from intense scarring.
- Restructure the damaged parts of the body
- Maintain skin color that can get damaged due to burns
Recovering from Surgery After A Car Accident
The first and foremost thing that accident victims need to understand is to grant themselves some time to rest. Even your whiplash doctor will suggest a week of rest from all demanding activities to improve your condition. After surgery, you will be bed-bound for a couple of days until you are allowed to get up and start moving around. Here are some tips to boost your recovery process:
- Take bed rest for as long as your doctor tells you to. Sometimes the bed rest can be up to two weeks or a month, depending upon the complexity of the procedure that you had.
- You must focus on your diet because the foods you eat will determine the rate and extent of your recovery. Having healthy foods and proper hydration should be your key focus.
- Mediate because your body is going through a lot of trauma. It will help you bring perspective to your thoughts and help you remain positive.
- Reduce screen time as it can add to your PTSD, causing the recovery to slow down.
Post-Surgery Liquid Diet
After surgery, you will be immobile for a while. Your doctor will recommend at least 2 weeks of rest. Patients are advised a liquid diet after surgery to:
- Strengthen your system for solid food.
- Recover from internal injuries, especially in your abdomen.
- Having issues chewing and swallowing.
What Can I Eat in A Liquid Diet?
Although your doctor will recommend what you can eat in a liquid diet, here are some things you can eat in your liquid diet:
- Dairy items like yogurt, milk, butter, and cream
- Coffee and tea
- Natural fruit juices
- Natural fruit popsicles
- Pureed food
- Milkshake
Foods to Eat After A Car Accident
As we mentioned above, what you eat has a direct impact on the recovery process. You must supply your body with an adequate amount of nutrients, vitamins, and fuel to get energy and heal faster. Here are some food choices that you must make for proper recovery:
Antioxidants
When you recover from surgery, your body needs plenty of antioxidants to get rid of free radicals and repair the damaged cells. Once your cells start functioning, as usual, it will become much easier to heal from internal injuries as well as the side effects of surgery. Berries, unprocessed chocolate, and pomegranate are really rich in antioxidants. A lot of vegetables like kale and nuts like pecans have an excellent supply of antioxidants as well.
Protein
Your muscles are pure protein. When you get in an accident, the muscles get damaged as well. Protein is necessary for your body. If you want to recover from injuries quickly, take an adequate amount of healthy protein. Healthy protein can be found in lean meats, chicken, fish, dairy, nuts, etc. Have a nice salad for lunch with plenty of chicken or fish, or order your favorite takeout meal. Just don’t rely too much on fried foods and processed fats.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and fruits are essential nutrients that your body needs to recover from surgical wounds. Take plenty of vegetables and fruits (but not too much) if you want to give your body a blast of vitamins and minerals. Other than this, you can also take supplements of specific vitamins if prescribed by your doctor. People with TBI or plastic surgery might have issues eating in the first few days, but solid food will soon be in your meal plan if you follow a prescription. Broccoli spinach and are the top choice.
Healthy Fats
Your body does need the energy to get up, go to the toilet and perform small activities like talking or reading. Healthy fats are essential as they supply power to your system. They will also help your body absorb vitamins from vegetables. Nuts, seeds, and unprocessed oils are some delicious options for fat.
Conclusion
Being in a car accident is an unfortunate but possible event. Multiple accidents require surgery to recover. When it comes to diet, you need to focus a lot on your diet to heal appropriately. If you are unsure of what to do after a car accident, just talk to your doctor and explain to them what you are feeling about your appetite and diet. Most people suffer from sudden changes in their appetite after an accident and surgery. Just focus on healthy foods that are not too fatty and over-processed and you will recover in no time!
