How to Treat a Slip and Fall That Caused Back Pain

Each year, more than one million people visit the emergency room for a slip and fall accident. That's more than two thousand people each day in the United States alone.

The effects of a slip and fall can radiate throughout the body, causing aches, pain, stiffness, and serious injury. The spine often receives the brunt of impact during these types of accidents, resulting in back pain that can last for weeks or months. When left untreated, back pain from a slip and fall can even become chronic.
If you've recently suffered a slip and fall that caused back pain, continue reading to learn how to treat it.

Common Slip and Fall Back Injuries

Slip and fall injuries are much more common than most people believe. These types of accidents are a leading cause of injury across all age groups. While falls are the leading cause of both brain injuries and hip fractures, the effects of a fall are also devastating on the spine.
Running from the base of the skull down into the hips, the spine is what supports the body and enables its movements. The spine also protects the spinal cord, a key component of our body's central nervous system. Injuries to the spine or the spinal cord can wreak havoc on the rest of the body, creating pain in the neck, head, and extremities, and causing the back pain we experience after falls.

Discogenic Pain

The spine is composed of 33 small bones called vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a spinal disc, a small cushioning pad which acts as a shock absorber for vertebrae and helps to hold the spine together. The abrupt landing of a slip and fall can fracture, herniate, or dislocate both the vertebrae and discs of the spine.
When a vertebra is fractured or moved from its natural alignment within the spine, the concurring swelling will impinge on neighboring spinal nerves. This damage can cause burning, throbbing, or radiating pain, as well as tingling or numbness. When a disc is damaged or torn, its inner material will leak into the spinal column, having a similar reaction. Typically, we refer to this pain as a herniated disc or pinched nerve.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The abrupt trauma of a slip and fall can be powerful enough to impact the spinal cord, which is housed within the spine. When the spine fails to protect the spinal cord, damage can cause permanent loss of strength, sensation, and function below the site of the injury.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue encompasses all of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves of the body. When the tendons and ligaments of the body are stretched and torn, we refer to this damage as a sprain. This type of injury can happen on impact or can be the result of bone being displaced, tearing the tissue from its respective place in the body.

Tailbone Injuries

The tailbone, known medically as the coccyx, sits at the very bottom of the spine. Direct impact to the bone during a fall can bruise, fracture, or dislocate it, causing inflammation, pain and tenderness, and even pain or strain when using the bathroom.

How to Treat Slip and Fall Back Pain Injuries

Proper diagnosis of your slip and fall back injury is paramount prior to attempting to treat it. Attempting any type of treatment, stretch and exercise routine, or therapy without first understanding the root of your pain may only exacerbate the existing injury.
To avoid hurting yourself further, be sure to first visit a doctor to assess the damage. This can mean visiting the emergency room immediately following your injury, or you could head to a trusted chiropractor. A chiropractor can request medical imaging to accurately diagnose your injuries, as well as begin a treatment plan that will help to alleviate pain, lessen inflammation, and promote healing.

Treating Injuries with the Help of a Chiropractor

Many people turn to a chiropractor after a slip and fall. With an extensive knowledge of the spine, chiropractors are well-versed in the network of vertebrae, discs, soft tissue, and nerves of the back. When any of these structures are injured, chiropractors work to diagnose the issue and alleviate pain symptoms.
While there are many reasons why individuals choose to visit a chiropractor following a slip and fall accident, many are drawn to one major differentiation: a chiropractor will not prescribe medications or advise invasive surgeries. Instead, a chiropractor takes a holistic and hands-on approach to actively identifying the source of your back pain and effectively working to remove it, not just mask your symptoms.
While actively treating your injuries, a chiropractor may also administer soothing therapies including:

• Massage therapy
• Ultrasound therapy
• Cryotherapy

Treating Injuries at Home

Once you've had your injuries properly diagnosed, there are home remedies that can help treat the pain.

• Icing the injury
• Taking Ibuprofen
• Resting the injury
• Properly supporting the back
• Taking warm baths or using a heating pad
• Catching up on sleep - you can't heal if you're not rested!

Slip and fall injuries can cause serious damage to the back. Prior to diagnosing yourself, be sure to first have all injuries assessed by a qualified physician. Then, rest, recuperate, and recover.