What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Organ Damage?

When we are in an accident (whether it’s a car accident or a slip and fall, or any incident), there is a high chance of being injured. From broken bones to burns, many injuries are immediately obvious, such as cuts and open wounds. Other injuries may not present symptoms until hours, days, or even weeks later. That is why it is so important to seek medical attention after an accident, even if you are not sure whether you have an injury.

Even if you do not see a medical professional because you believe that you are unharmed, it is critical to keep an eye on yourself and any unusual symptoms. Organ damage is one of the types of injuries that might not show symptoms until days later, and when it does, it is a serious sign that you need to get yourself to a hospital.

Why is organ damage a serious injury?

There are types of accidents and situations in which you sustain damage to your body. Organ damage is just what it sounds like: when your internal organs suffer injury and damage. Organs are supremely important to the proper function of your body, and if they are damaged, it can cause permanent injuries. Unfortunately, permanent injuries from organ damage are not uncommon, and they can require lifelong care.

When parts of your body such as your eyes, kidneys, heart, brain, spleen, lungs, liver, and stomach  are damaged, that is considered to be internal organ damage. This type of injury can occur in many situations. Traumatic accidents like car accidents, slip and falls, and falling objects can leave the victim with severe or catastrophic injuries that are likely to present with complications throughout the rest of their life.

Internal injuries can be especially dangerous due to their often insidious nature. You may not realize that you have an injury until you are showing symptoms a week or two later, and immediate medical treatment is essential. With a delay of treatment, the injury itself may be worse than it had been directly after the accident.

What are the symptoms of organ damage?

When it comes to organ damage, there are a whole host of symptoms to look for, depending on the organ that was injured. It is important to keep an eye out for these symptoms so that you can receive prompt medical attention, and so that you can be compensated for it as well as your other, immediately noticeable injuries.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should make sure to seek immediate medical attention. Once you are healing, and if you think the injuries you suffered were due to someone’s negligence, contact one of our experienced Vancouver lawyers who can ensure that all of your injuries will be compensated properly.

Symptoms of organ damage include:

• Heart: Sweating, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, chest pain, difficulty breathing, accumulation of fluids, and sleep apnea.
• Lungs: Weakness, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, coughing up blood, or chest pain.
• Kidneys: Shortness of breath, swelling in hands and feet, feeling lightheaded, fainting, weakness, fatigue, swollen or puffy face.
• Spleen: Dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, lightheadedness, fainting, pain in the upper left abdomen, or left shoulder pain.
• Liver: Yellowish skin and eyes, fatigue, swollen legs and ankles, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, or vomiting.
• Stomach and intestines: Upset stomach, abdominal bloating and pain, bowel obstruction, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or indigestion.

If you experience any of these symptoms after you have been involved in an accident or were injured by someone’s negligence, then it is important that you seek medical attention as quickly as you can. Injuries like these can possibly make the damage worse if they are not treated promptly and properly.

What are some complications of organ damage?

While organ damage is serious enough on its own, there are severe complications that can also occur.. For instance, cardiogenic shock is when your organs and your brain are not receiving enough blood and oxygen because your heart is not pumping fast enough. If you have been in an accident where you received a chest injury in particular, you should keep an eye out for symptoms such as sweating, rapid breathing, and confusion.

The human body is a complicated machine, and we need to understand as much about our own bodies as possible so we can understand when something is wrong. Being in a car accident or slipping or working in a hazardous environment can leave you with injuries. Not just ones that heal in a couple weeks, but some that may not even show any symptoms until several days later. These deceptive injuries are severe and require immediate medical attention so as to prevent life-long complications.

If someone’s neglect has left you injured, it is critical that you seek out the advice from one of our personal injury lawyers. At Philbrook Law, we put our clients first. To ensure that you are compensated for your injuries, call us at 360-695-3309 or use our contact page. We proudly serve the communities of Vancouver and Battle Ground, WA, as well as Portland, OR.