PLEASE, get medical help. Yes, I'd go to the ER. DD was rear-ended a few years ago. Went to the ER that night, checked over, was declared fine. But within a couple of weeks, she developed a herniated disk in her back. You're banged up far more than she was immediately after the accident. You have no way of knowing how much internal damage you've suffered. AND you need a record of what your injuries are.

Go to the ER today, and first thing tomorrow, call your lawyer. That way you only have to concentrate on your medical needs--you won't have to involve yourself in paperwork, negociations, arguing with the other folks' insurance companies, etc. Best thing we did when DD was hurt was to call our attorney immediately. He handled everything, and she did have a serious injury, as it turned out. Has had numbers tests and prodedures over the years (it's a permanent injury that she'll be dealing with for the next 50-60 years). Fortunately, our lawyer handled things beautifully, and she got her medical bills covered as well as an award for future medical needs.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

What a bummer. I feel bad for you. You were just trapped in a bad situation with no way out.
If you need meds for pain, you may want to go to the ER. It would be good to have a medical report other than the Police report on hand for insurance purposes. These type of injuries can take weeks to show up. You sound like you were one of the lucky ones so far.
Take it easy, I hope you are out of pain soon.

Trin

Yes, to the ER ASAP. My friend was told that he barely escaped a paralizing fracture. He had surgery a month ago and is better.

I was rear ended and just had a horrible headache the first day, next day I could barely walk. Every part of my body hurt. The Doctor had me "dot" all injuries on a diagram of the human body. I was one big dot. LOL!

That was 5 years ago. I still hurt.

Pain Pills did not help. But, Soma, a muscle relaxer (I think) did help some.

Gayle

I had something like that happen to me too. It's important to have your injuries documented. If nothing develops...no harm done. But if you are injured worse than it seems, you will need to have the medical records reflect your injuries.

My youngest DD was in an accident on a Friday night, many years ago. She was treated/released that night. They said she was just bruised/banged up. Her pains increased steadily. By the time I got her to our dr on Monday, she was in a LOT of pain. He said that it is normal for pain to increase over the first 72 hours, but always, always, always have it checked out to make sure it's not something serious.

Good luck all the way around.

Shirley

What Gadgetrs said. Pain always increases AFTER an accident. Your body took a beating. Get an expert to check it out.

The others have addressed your medical issues. I'm going to address financial issues. Yes, go to the ER. The follow up with a visit to your doctor. Pursue whatever course of treatment they recommend. If you have soft-tissue damage, physical therapy is probably in order.

Keep records. Even if your medical bills are paid by your insurance company, you are still entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, etc. Insurance companies routinely settle for substantially more than the cost of medical treatment.

I'm not big on lawsuits or greed, but I didn't know any of the above when I got rear-ended, and as a result I didn't get nearly as much of a settlement as I should have. I was stopped for a light when my car was hit from behind. My neck didn't hurt much at the time, and my husband was quite ill and later died, so I neglected medical treatment until some time had passed. The insurance company interpreted that to mean that I wasn't hurt and therefore didn't deserve much compensation.

So I'm just saying don't make my mistakes.

Good luck!

sending some gentle hugs!

Donna (^_^)

My neice just settled her lawsuit last month. She was also stopped in traffic and was rear ended by a dump truck. After 18 months of physical therapy, trips to the chiropracter, electric stimulation etc. there was little improvement.

She was able to work but couldn't lift anything heavy, had difficulty standing for prolonged periods, and neck, shoulder and back pain. She finally had back surgery and had 2 herniated discs and another one fused. Her surgeon said she may have more problems later in life or if she gets pregnant.

Please don't wait.

Alternate heat and ice for the pain. Whatever you got for pain, take it. I'd go see my regular doc if I were you. ONLY if you can manage them pain. A good hot soak in a hot tub they told me. My problem was I didn't have one! LOL They said a bathtub will work fine but I'd have loved the jets! ;)
I was a sanwich too on a highway in town in1998. Another car was stopped, I pulled up behind her and stopped far enough back. A old lady driving along was gawking at 2 kids playing in a parking lot to the right of us. Didn't see us. Both the front and back of my car got it. I had PT for months, they were so worried about my neck and made me wear a brace etc for awhile. My lower back was what hurt worse, bulbging disks. MRI finally showed what it was.
My car insurance paid my medical bills. I didn't sue and didn't ask for a thing from the older lady's insurance that caused the accident. I was pi$$ed, but alive and that was more important to me than money! My medical bills were going to fix me up and hers paid for my car. However the frame was bent, which could be also to yours if the trunk doesn't shut right.
Good Luck with whatever you do...
I *hate a$$hole drivers!!

I am thinking a little more here Lori. Do you have muscle relaxants? Take those too. They should get you thru today til you can see your regular Doc.

My husband is still suffering terribly from a whiplash from a car accident in the early 1970's. I have arthritis in my neck from the same accident. Both of us were told we had minor whiplashes at the time but they progressed in my husbands case to extreme disability. Please get checked out in the ER and also let your doctor examine you for another documentation and opinion.

That just sounds terrible!! I have to say, we have been very, VERY lucky through the years, and no one in my immediate family have had any bad accidents. Please take care of yourself!

I'm sorry Lori, gentle hugs for you ;0)

I'm with the don't wait crowd go on get it checked out NOW.

just anpther saying be sure you get checked...i was rear ended in 1968, and wish to this day i had gone in for medical help...like heather said, it can last for years...

Thanks guys.

We're just getting home from the ER in Evanston.
I am loaded on narcotics and feel much much better.

Custer decided we needed to go when I started throwing everything up and hurting my back and leg (with the artificial knee) in the process.

First they took an influenza swab.
They another nurse came in and called me Barbara and asked what xrays I needed? Since I was somewhat debilitated, throwing up in a waste can because of the pain, Custer got things straighted out.
LOL

They xrayed my sinus (I have a bad sinus infection...but I knew that) then they xrayed my neck and chest. There is no problems in my neck vertibrae and the collar bones are okay. So are my upper ribs. I don't have pnoumonia but bronchitis which surprised me. I haven't had bronchitis since I quit smoking fifteen years ago....I guess that's why they kept asking me if I smoked?

They sent me home with some high powered antibiotic, something for the nausea and percoset for the pain and a muscle relaxant.

We drove through Wendy's on the way home; I at a plain kiddie hamburger, drank some water and took my medicine like a good little girl.

We have in the middle of a white out blizzard so the ride home took two times longer. I am glad to announce though, I am feeling no paint. Oh, I know I hurt; I just don't care much about it. I guess you can say I'm loaded? LOL

I'm just reading through the discharge papers....they are made out to a woman named Barbara who supposedly lives at my house. I hope this doesn't cause problems with the insurance? Knowing my luck the company will accuse us of fraudulent use or or something. Maybe they'll call when I am on muscle relaxants?

Thanks for the good everyone!
I am very thankful for my friends here!

Lori

I'm so glad you got checked out.

I'd follow through with the hospital and get those papers fixed.

And please, be careful for the next weeks--if ANYthing doesn't feel right to you, get back to the hospital or to your dr. Good luck.

Oooo, I can tell you are in no pain Lori, or at least not caring if you are. Take care little buddy. I hope the meds and some bed rest get you back on your feet and feeling tip top in no time. Very glad you went to the ER. You just can't be too cautious when it comes to car wrecks on these aging bones and such. If nothing else, you got a stash of good drugs. LOL

Keep us updated on your progress please. ((Lori)) Quick hugs. :)

Well, for crying out loud, Lori. I was wondering how you were making out with the weather. Seems that was the least of your worries. I Hate to drive the interstate in Utah, and if the weather is bad I would just as soon stop. I have lived a lot ofplaces, as you know, and some of the worst drivers I have seen are down there. Not to worry you, but xrays often will not show much. Call your own doc in the morning and see what they recommend. If you are having increased pain, insist on seeing an neurologist. Better safe than sorry. Take care.

((((((((((Lori)))))))))))

Glad you went to the ER and got checked out and I hope you feel better tomorrow.

Hope tomorrow is a better day Lori!

Oh, Barbara! (LOL) I'm just glad to hear that you're not even worse than what you are!!!!

Glad you went and got checked out. My DD is still dealing with back pain from a wreck from three years ago.

Glad you wnet and got checked, whatever your name is. LOL!

I would call, or get Hubby to call the hospital today and get the "Barbara" thing straightened out - just imagine the halls of justice grinding to a halt down the road if you need to prove you were in the ER and they can't follow the Barbara connection...is it possible they had coded your health number in incorrectly and got somebody named Barbara instead?
Suzan J

How are you feeling today Lori?

Hope you're feeling better Lori. Be sure to document everything just in case.

And definitely have the "barbara" thing straightened out right away. That could really cause some problems down the road.

~Betsy

Don't sign off on anything with the insurance companies just yet. I think you should have quite a bit of time before anything has to be settled. Sometimes injuries show up later. Just don't sign anything yet.

~Betsy

hospital has promised to fix the problem.
I will follow up later this week.
I need to contact my insurance agent to see if I need to do anything. I will call her right now before I forget.

Things are okay here kids.

I started hurting and getting restless this morning about 3am. I finally realized at five it was because the pain medication had worn off.

I've stayed down pretty much this morning.
I did fix Custer some lunch (Hamburger Helper how easy is that?) and washed a load of puppy blankets. I'm really tired now so will go take a nap.

Cathy is right; there are NO drivers worse than in Utah.
It is impossible to drive defensively. If you a safe amount of space between you and a vehicle some moron will dive into it. Going the posted limit is very frightening cause people run up your back.

I was very glad to get home Saturday night.

Oh!
Our team did well at state. I'll post some photos later.

Thanks to you all!
You are the best!

Lori

Thanks you guys for all the suggestions!

At your advice(s) I called my insurance even though I didn't get cited. I was reminded we have a Personal Injury clause on my policy that pays up to three thousand dollars. When I told Custer he reminded me of our accident insurance.

I will be making lots of phone calls tomorrow.

Thanks again!

As long as I regularly take the medication I'm alright.
If I wait too long between doses the pain gets to me and it takes longer for it to become effective.

Thanks again!

Lori

Glad to hear you got checked out, turn the claim in to your PIP carrier.

Lori, I've been gone, so this is the first I've heard of this, I hope you're doing OK and I'm glad it wasn't worse. I hear ya about the people jumping into your safety zone, that's one of my biggest driving peeves.

OK, now I'm off to read your update....