Can Car Accidents Cause MS? (Multiple Sclerosis)

Any health condition that develops after a car accident can be difficult to diagnose. According to WebMD, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the fifteen illnesses that medical professionals have trouble identifying.

Following a car accident, medical teams execute countless tests on their patients to search for broken bones or head trauma. The complication here is that there is no single test that will determine if MS is a possibility. It is a disease that can significantly impact your quality of life, and unfortunately, can only be distinguished by ruling out all other diseases.

Another drawback is that studies show that there is no link between new or pre-existing MS and traumatic injury; however, there is a growing body of research that suggests that head injuries could be a potential trigger to MS. The following provides insightful information that can influence your claim if you have been in a car accident that you believe resulted in or triggered your MS.

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What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, unforeseeable, and incurable disease that impacts nearly 1 million people in the United States. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its central nervous system, targeting the brain, spinal cord, and eyes.

This condition is not well understood in terms of how it originates, but it is believed that environmental, genetic, and some trauma-related factors present a greater risk of developing MS.  People living with MS may find it hard to deal with the obstacles they face every day, and so do those who have frequent relapses. A relapse is a sudden attack of new, existing, or worsening symptoms. This is an unsettling experience for people who live with MS because they observe quickly that they aren’t able to do things as productively as they were once able to do.

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What are Some Symptoms of MS?

No one will experience MS in the same way. Depending on how far advanced your MS is will determine how severe your symptoms will be. However, your symptoms can be completely different than another person, which is why it can be a challenge to recognize MS.

The most common symptoms of MS include:

  • Fatigue
  • Struggling to walk
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Muscle spasms
  • Weakness
  • Vision impairment
  • Dizziness
  • Bladder issues
  • Pain & itching
  • Cognitive changes
  • Mood swings or depression

While some less common symptoms that you may experience include:

  • Dysphagia (swallowing issues)
  • Seizures
  • Loss of hearing
  • Tremor
  • Speech problems
  • Breathing problems

Although these symptoms can suddenly impact your wellbeing, most of them can be controlled with medication or rehabilitation.

How Do You Treat MS?

There is still no cure for MS. Treatment focuses on delaying its progression in the body, handling relapses, and tending to symptoms.

Treatment can range from infusion and injectable based methods to physical therapy and other medications to help with the pain. It is important to partner with your physician to find the best treatment plan for you so you can get back to your living your life.

Brain Injury
Brain Injury

How Do You Treat MS?

There is still no cure for MS. Treatment focuses on delaying its progression in the body, handling relapses, and tending to symptoms.

Treatment can range from infusion and injectable based methods to physical therapy and other medications to help with the pain. It is important to partner with your physician to find the best treatment plan for you so you can get back to your living your life.

Is There a Correlation Between MS and Car Accidents?

As of now, there is not enough data to correlate car accidents and MS. Still, according to Everyday Health, there could be a possible link.

“There are still well-known neurologists in this country who feel that trauma may have an effect on the “blood-brain barrier,” and that trauma increases the risk of inflammatory cells entering the central nervous system.”

As new evidence moves forward it could be possible that questions are raised surrounding how MS develops and how it could be prevented. Whether or not you think your MS was prompted from a car accident-related head trauma, you should get all necessary medical attention to add to expanding research.

Connection Between Multiple Sclerosis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

There is some research that shows that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can increase your chances of developing MS. PTSD is heavily associated with car-accidents and as a result, impacts over 9 percent of car accident victims.

PTSD is a stress-related disorder that usually occurs after a traumatic experience. Dealing with chronic stress can cause your immune system to attack itself, increasing your risk of infection or illness.

Both MS and PTSD have overlapping symptoms that can make life feel unbearable. Some intersected symptoms you may face include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Pain
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Personality changes

Having to cope with not one, but two conditions can take a significant toll on your mental health in general.

Successful Car Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you or someone you love has been in a car accident that has resulted in MS, you may have a chance to recover compensation from your car accident claim with a skilled personal injury lawyer. The Barnes Firm attorneys are highly experienced and passionate attorneys that will work vigorously to help you secure compensation for all the pain or damage you endured.

The Barnes Firm’s attorneys have successfully obtained millions of dollars in reimbursements for their clients, which has earned them top awards and accreditations on listings like Best Lawyers in America. To schedule a free consultation and speak with a compassionate car accident lawyer today, complete our contact form or call our office at any time.

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