Hello,

I'm 29 and in 6/2003 my husband, myself, and my daughter(turned 1yr at the time)were passengers in a car accident. It was an emergency leave
due to the death of my husband's father. We had not slept and were in a rush. First time I had not put my daughter in a carseat before the drive. Waiting for the next stop to get it from the back of the truck, but it never came.

My daughter's little body shattered the small side window of the quad truck, she was thrown about 20ft. Thank God he was watching over her. The skin of her forehead split open, a catscan showed her neck about to dislocate. She was airlifted to another state to a children's hospital for surgery. Where her neck was x-rayed several times. The nurse came out and said " It's a miracle! her neck is fine."

It brings tears to my eyes when I remember the pain she went through. The look in her eyes, her sudden screaming, the blood running down her
face, the terrible swelling of her face and
body and being put on morphine. The plastic surgeon was going to numb the area of her forehead she hoped she fell asleep. I prayed to God that she would fall asleep so she couldn't feel the pain. She was holding my hand and her bunny starring into my eyes and just before the surgeon positioned herself to start the numbing, my daughter was sound asleep. She slept until the surgery was over,1hr 1/2.

My husband got 106 stitches on his arm. I looked fine except for a huge bump on my forehead. I was worried about my daughter and husband that I tried to ignore what I was feeling. I always said I was fine, but my neck was hurting. I felt a lump on the right side of my neck, It hurt just by swallowing.

Our family paid the tickets to fly us back home. The next day we went to see our family Dr. It takes at least a month to get an appt. with him, so we were seen by another one of the physicians. I told her what I was feeling in my neck. She said it was normal to be experiencing that pain because of the accident, that it would be a long time for my body to get back to normal again. She could not feel a lump so she prescribed naproxen.

We tried to get her to give us a referral for a chiropracter for our back problems. She never did because the back pain was also normal. So I just basically gave up on my symptoms and tried to ignore them. I really don't remeber when I started paying attention to my body again.

I have been having some difficulty swallowing, a feeling of tightness in my neck, and
noticed that my neck seemed to be getting thicker. I thought it was just because of the accident. I have neck, head, upper and lower back pain. I usually get the pain in different areas at a time. Lately I've been hurting with daily headaches, neck, shoulders (right one hurting more) and upper back pain.

On July 4th I woke up feeling tightness and pressure in my throat, I couldn't breathe right. I felt my breathing shallow. I got in the shower trying not to panic and relax but it just seemed to be getting worse. I felt my neck and there was a pretty big lump that was swelling under the adams apple, some numbness sensation and light headed. The worst part was feeling that I couldn't breathe. I almost went to the ER but I don't have insurance so I just tried relaxing and breathing.

I've always been thin and my adams apple was more visible, now it's not. The lump is still there. I'ts hard to breathe through my mouth, tightness and pressure in my throat/neck like I have something inside my throat. So it makes it difficult to swallow and sometimes feels achy when I swallow. Breathing and swallowing feels almost like a job. I don't understand why?

I'm sorry for this long post... I really appreciate the opportunity to be able to use this site. I'm wondering if anyone can please
give me any information, suggestions, or advice on what this may be or what I can do.
Thank you for your help...God Bless you...

N~Angelica...

Hello and welcome to you! Your story is incredible. What a miracle that your family is intact after such a terrible accident.

Now, three years later... You are LONG overdue for some medical checks and possibly treatment. You describe daily pain (head, neck, shoulders, back) that must be addressed. Back when you were told (just after the accident) that the pains you experienced were "normal" (secondary to the bodily trauma), I am sure the nurse you saw realized some general healing would need to take place before a referral to chiropractics was appropriate. Sounds as though the problem was receiving no medical follow-up at specific intervals afterwards to assess healing and any subsequent needs. The pain you now experience in so many areas is NOT normal. Again, it needs to be addressed and I encourage you to schedule a physical exam ASAP. Perhaps now a referral to a chiropractor or physical therapist may be in order. Sounds like you would certainly benefit from a thorough evaluation of neck, shoulders and upper back, and possibly some treatment modalities.

As for the throat "tightness" (that seems to be interfering with your breathing and swallowing) and the palpable neck lump you feel externally... It is very important that these symptoms be brought to a doctor's attention as well. You say that the difficulty breathing makes you feel panicky. Not good. You definitely need some relief and peace of mind. Your physician needs to get to the bottom of this right away.

It sounds as though your neck and upper torso pain may be old unresolved issues related to the accident that went without assessment or treatment. Only medical providers will be able to determine if your throat/swallowing/breathing issues are related, or something else entirely. An ENT referral may be in order for the throat problems.

Angelica... Please take this advice... It's high time you get an "overhaul", my friend. Write out a thorough list of all the symptoms you have described and schedule a doctor's appointment without delay.

I hope you will soon have the answers you seek and that quality treatment will be promptly initiated if medically indicated. You should not be suffering silently, nor putting yourself in last place when it comes to medical attention. YOU ARE IMPORTANT TOO!

Hope you'll take a moment to post a note after seeing the doctor so we'll know how you are faring. I shall remember you in my prayers and specifically ask for relief of your persistent physical symptoms. Keep the faith!

From my heart,

Melanie

Hi Melanie,

Thank you! for the welcome and the encouragement you have given me. I'ts nice to know there are people like you who care. I will do as you said and write down my symptoms for my Dr. I haven't seen him for a long time. It will take at least 3 wks for me to see him. We recently relocated for my husband's new job. He was hired on a 3 month trial, and has been told he will be hired directly through the company this month. He will get insurance benefits and will put me down with him. By then hopefully I will have my appt., and get him to start getting checked also. He worries me because he's been a welder for 10yrs. Melanie sorry I noticed I put 6/2003 it was 6/2002.

As for my family's experience, yes I believe it was a true miracle... We have 3 boys and having a little girl was a miracle for me. I remember asking God for a little girl and if it wasn't his will it was ok. She was a surprise, she kept her legs crossed during the ultrasound. But when that accident happened I felt so helpless. I felt like my whole world was coming to an end. I knew she was in God's hands and only he could save her.

Melanie, Thank you for your prayers, I will remember you also, and may God Bless your good heart always...

N~Angelica