Fibromyalgia is described by the Mayo Clinic as a disorder marked by pervasive musculoskeletal pain in conjunction with fatigue, memory, mood, and sleep issues. Fibromyalgia affects almost 6 million Americans and is believed by experts to intensify painful sensations by altering the method in which the brain analyzes pain signals.
While symptoms can sometimes build up gradually over time in the absence of a single pivotal incident, they typically begin after a physically traumatic event, such as surgery, infection, or accident. Significant psychological stress can also bring on symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Before fibromyalgia was better understood, experts wondered if it could be triggered by traumatic events such as car accidents. In a groundbreaking article, the British Columbia Medical Journal addressed this issue and determined that car accident injuries can lead to fibromyalgia.
Now, however, intriguing new research has indicated that fibromyalgia can actually lead to car accidents.
Published in the Journal of Rheumatology, the new study discovered that people who suffer from fibromyalgia are also plagued by a risk greater than two times that of other drivers for being in a car accident serious enough to send them to the emergency room.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Donald Redelmeier, informed the Canadian Press that although there have been multiple studies in the past addressing fibromyalgia as a consequence of car accidents, he believes his group’s study on the effect of fibromyalgia as a factor in car accident risk to be the first of its kind.
The study examined the driving records of 137,631 Canadians diagnosed with fibromyalgia. They were in 738 serious accidents during the first year following their diagnosis. That rate is nearly 2.5 times that of the rest of the population.
While the study concluded that the rate of car accidents for fibromyalgia patients was not far below the rate of accidents for those diagnosed with alcoholism, it also found systematic and on-going fibromyalgia care from a physician helped to reduce the risk.
University of Calgary pain specialist, Dr. John Pereira, who was not involved in the study, noted to the Canadian Press that one ramification of fibromyalgia for some patients is poor daytime concentration brought on by unrefreshing sleep. This could be a possible explanation for their increased car accident risk.
It is the hope of researchers that the study conclusions will elicit discussions between patients and doctors about driving safety for fibromyalgia sufferers.
Further Reading: 10 Reasons You Need a Northglenn Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Insurance Companies & Fibromyalgia
Unfortunately, insurance companies may be reluctant to accept the connection between car accidents and fibromyalgia, and may refuse to pay associated medical expenses.. It is a disorder and condition that many people are suspicious of – because it is difficult to diagnose and its symptoms can change. Many sufferers of fibromyalgia have “good days and bad days” and the pain may fluctuate from one body part to another. In addition – no two fibromyalgia sufferers are quite the same, making it difficult for insurers to pick out the true cases of fibromyalgia from the “fraudulent ones”. As such, they may unfairly delay or deny your claim – even without probable cause. This is one of the reasons it is so important to have an experienced northern Colorado personal injury attorney on your side from the very start.
Your attorney can advocate on your behalf and present a clear medical picture for the insurance companies to review. They can fight the insurers every step of the way to ensure that you receive the money you need to recover from your injuries and take care of any chronic pain issues, such as fibromyalgia.
Contact Our Experienced Broomfield Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact our experienced personal injury attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
