Should You Be Worried About Leg Pain After a Car Accident?

If you’re experiencing pain, weakness, soreness, or other leg discomfort after a crash, it could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. That doesn’t mean you should worry, however, just that you should go see a doctor so  you understand what type of injury you could be experiencing.

Here are the most common leg injuries our firm sees for clients who have been in a car accident:

• Bruises and Cuts: It’s rare for a car crash victim to not suffer at least minor bruises and lacerations, even from relatively minor accidents. Most of these injuries will heal within a few days, but more severe bruises and cuts could require stitches, medication, or even surgery.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Our clients have often suffered sprains, tears, and ruptures in their lower extremities after a car crash. Many of these injuries will heal over time with the help of rest, medication, and physical therapy. Others, however, require surgery and can cause life-long issues.
• Knee Injuries: In addition to muscle and bone damage, knee injuries often include damage to the various ligaments and tissues that make up the knee joint:
  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL connects your femur with your tibia to stabilize your knee joint. When this ligament is damaged, it can be extremely painful and leave lasting effects. This injury often requires surgery.
  • Posterior collateral ligament (PCL). Severe PCL injuries are less common than ACL injuries but can be every bit as painful and damaging. Even though the PCL is located in the back of the knee, it can often be injured when a bent knee makes blunt force trauma with a dashboard or steering wheel.
  • Meniscus. The meniscus is a c-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion for the kneecap. If you tear your meniscus, you will be unable to bear weight on that knee and will require surgery in order to heal properly.
• Broken Bones or Fractures: We all have dozens of fragile bones in our legs, feet, and toes, all of which are vulnerable in a car crash. Whether your pain is a result of a hairline fracture, a clean fracture, or a compound fracture, you will need to visit a medical professional. Minor breaks (such as in your toes) will often heal on their own, but when left undiagnosed, can become more serious. More severe fractures will need to be set and cast — and might even require pins, screws, rods, plates, or even full joint replacements.
• Herniated Disks/Sciatica: The discs in your back rest between the bones of your spine to provide cushion and support. When the nucleus of one of these discs rips or bulges, it presses on the spine causing sciatica. Sciatica is a sharp shooting pain that consistently shoots down the sciatic nerve from your spine through your lower leg(s). It can be incredibly painful or even cause numbness, weakness, or pins and needles in the back of the leg. 

Every accident is different, and everyone’s body is different, so your pain will depend on your unique experience. If you’re experiencing some of these symptoms, or even something different it’s a sign that you’ve been injured.