John Price Law Blog

What are the Signs of an Internal Injury?

Internal injuries are commonly known as “invisible” injuries since symptoms may not present right away. For instance, internal bleeding is known as a “silent killer” since the bleeding may be undetected by an emergency physician.

In 2022, there were 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries, an increase of 7.5 percent from 2021. Whether you are a factory worker, road crew worker, or warehouse worker, your chances of suffering an internal injury are significantly higher than someone who has a white-collar job.

If you have sustained an internal injury while on the job, our Charleston worker injury lawyers are here to assist you in your workers’ compensation claim.

Types of Work Accidents

Construction workers, factory workers, and warehouse workers may be exposed to any of the following on a daily basis:

A work-related accident can result in any number of injuries. Proving that your injury was caused by a specific incident requires that you gather evidence, which is best left to the services of a Charleston work injury lawyer.

Signs of Damage to Internal Organs

Common internal injuries may include damage to the following:

Brain

The brain is one of the most highly perfused organs in the body, controlling our motor skills, breathing, temperature, memory, and other essential life functions. A common traumatic brain injury caused by trauma, a subdural hematoma, occurs when a blood vessel in the brain tears. In a subdural hematoma, blood will pool under the dura mater (a layer of tissue that protects your brain). The blood can cause pressure on brain tissue, resulting in headaches, nausea, slurred speech, changes in vision, and weakness on one side of the body.

Lungs

Blunt trauma can cause a pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a blood clot in one of the vessels in the lungs. Workers who experience injury to a vein as a result of a fracture are at an increased chance of developing a PE. A PE is a medical emergency since it can damage your lungs and put strain on your heart if not promptly treated.

However, a PE may not develop until five to seven days following an initial trauma. Symptoms of PE include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, excessive sweating, and a rapid pulse.

Kidneys

If you experience damage to your kidneys, you will likely feel pain on the sides of your body, often accompanied by blood in your urine.

Spleen

The spleen produces white blood cells, which help you fight off infections. A damaged spleen can result in pain in the upper left side of the abdomen. Since the spleen filters 10 percent of the body’s blood supply, if you do not seek medical treatment, you may bleed out.

Pancreas

If you damage your pancreas, you likely have damage to other internal organs. The most common symptom of a damaged pancreas is pain in the upper middle part of the abdomen. The abdomen may also become distended and rigid.

Detecting an Internal Injury

Just because you are not presenting with symptoms does not mean that you have not suffered an internal injury. Internal bleeding and other signs of organ damage can take a few hours to days following an accident to evolve.

Based on the circumstances of your accident and a physician exam, a doctor may order either a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound. Medical imaging will determine the source of your bleeding and the best course of treatment. You will want to admit this imaging and the treating physician’s notes when filing your workers’ compensation claim.

Speak with Our Charleston Work Injury Lawyers Today

If you have been injured or fallen ill due to a workplace accident or exposure, the legal team at John Price Law Firm is here to advocate for you. If you are interested in scheduling a free consultation with one of our Charleston work injury lawyers, contact us by phone or by completing our online contact form today.