What Is A Slip and Fall Injury?
When you have a sudden fall, be it at home or in a public space, you may be lucky enough to brush it off as clumsiness. Unfortunately, some people endure traumatic falls that lead to severe pain and limitations. Some of which might have occurred at a grocery store, retail shop or the workplace. No matter which circumstance applies to you, chiropractic treatment for back pain can often help with recovery from a slip and fall injury.
ChiroCare of Florida’s back doctors can provide you with the therapy you need following many types of injuries related to slip and fall accidents. After a slip and fall accident, you need to treat your injuries to prevent long-term damage, to shorten your recovery time, and to lessen the severity of pain and symptoms. Don’t wait to find the right doctor, contact ChiroCare of Florida and get help today with accident and injury chiropractic plan. It’s essential to treat a back injury from a fall as soon as possible.
While back, neck, and shoulder pain are common following a slip and fall injury, there are many other types of injuries that can occur as a result of this type of accident as well. These include bone injuries, injuries to the head and extremities, soft tissue damage, and more. Accident and injury chiropractic can help address the symptoms of each of these injuries, leading to a better medical prognosis and less pain. If you are suffering from discomfort following a slip and fall accident injury, schedule an appointment for a chiropractic evaluation today.
Types of Slip and Fall Injuries
Though falls can happen to anyone, after a certain age, the injuries can be debilitating. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 out of 5 falls causes a serious injury and as many as 30% of all slip and fall accidents result in at least moderate injury. An estimated 2.5 million people over the age of 65 are treated in the emergency room for a fall and nearly 33% of adults in this age bracket will suffer from a slip and fall accident injury in a given year.
Furthermore, slip and fall injuries account for nearly 15% of injuries in the workplace, and comprise 12% to 15% of all Workman’s Compensation Claims. An injury from a slip and fall accident can leave even the healthiest and most fit adults out of commission for quite a while as they recover, causing economic hardship and emotional stress in addition to the physical pain that accompanies such an injury.
Injuries from falls can include:
- Fractures
- Muscle sprain
- Muscle strain
- Herniated disc
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- And more
Though some injuries like a concussion and broken bones can occur, back injuries, such as a muscle strains, are much more common, and chiropractic treatment for back pain in these scenarios is often the best way to address the pain.
If you’re dealing with back pain after a fall, seek medical attention. Failing to get the right care can cause your pain and injury to worsen. Some back injuries, for instance, a herniated disc, can lead to other conditions like a pinched nerve or muscle weakness. It’s important to find the right slip and fall injury treatment right away. Get the help you need by contacting the chiropractors at ChiroCare of Florida at 1-877-DR-RIGHT (1-877-388-2165).
There are two classifications of slip and fall accidents: elevated falls and same-level falls. The type of slip and fall accident you experience will likely impact the type of injuries, as well as the extent of damage, you suffer as a result.
Elevated Falls
Elevated fall injuries are particularly common in the workplace, especially for those who work in high-risk, physically demanding occupations. An elevated fall occurs when you are already some distance off the ground, such as on a ladder or step stool, and tumble to the ground.
Elevated falls are more dangerous compared to same-level falls and pose a greater likelihood for severe injury. The term “elevated” can refer to just a few feet off the ground, or a significant distance. Generally, the higher the fall the more severe you can expect an injury to be.
The most common slip and fall accident injuries associated with elevation include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Skull fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Concussions
- Broken bones
Often, when an individual falls from a great height they experience multiple broken bones. The most common breaks we see in this type of event include broken or fractured elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, pelvis, and lumbar spine. These slip and fall injuries can lead to long-lasting, chronic pain that accident and injury chiropractic can help greatly.
Same-Level Falls
The second classification of slip and fall injuries that are known as same-level fall. This type of accident can include tripping, slipping, stumbling, and more. It may result from falling over a hazard in the walkway, liquid on the floor, or any other cause. These injuries are generally not as severe as those that result from elevated falls, yet the pain that they can cause is very real and very serious.
The most common slip and fall accident injuries associated with same-level accidents include:
- Broken bones, most commonly the wrist or arm
- Torn ligaments
- Bruising, swelling, and tenderness
- Cuts and abrasions
- Torn rotator cuffs
- And more
In regard to a same-level fall, the position in which you land on the ground will greatly affect your injury. For example, should you land face-first and extend your arms to break your fall you are more likely to damage your wrists. Should you land on your buttocks you are more likely to experience damage to your spine, back, and tail bone.
Signs of a Back Injury
Even if you are able to walk away from a slip and fall, you may have suffered a serious injury that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Some signs of a back injury can include:
- Muscle spasms
- Tenderness
- Localized pain
- Pain worsening with certain movements
- Weakness in the legs
- Numbness or tingling
For some slip and fall injuries, the only way to diagnose the problem is through a physical evaluation and imaging tests, like an MRI or CT scan.
What to Do When You Notice Back Pain
If you suffer a back injury from a fall, you will likely notice pain fairly quickly. The first indication of pain is usually upon impact as your body hits the ground. You will likely notice pain as you attempt to get up. Bumps and bruises from slips and falls are common, but pain that lasts for an extended period is indicative that you may need chiropractic treatment for back pain.
Seek Medical Evaluation
If you suffer pain that is so severe you cannot stand up straight, or pain that is extreme when you move in a certain direction, seek a medical evaluation right away. Seeking proper slip and fall injury treatment is crucial to ensure serious complications won’t appear later on. Go to an urgent care center, your primary care physician, or the emergency room if you believe you have a serious back injury from a fall.
Rest
Once a doctor evaluates you and provides you with their recommendation, it is crucial that you go home and rest. Do not attempt to lift heavy objects, participate in exercise or sporting events, or exert yourself in any way. While healing from a back injury from a fall it is best to stay home as much as possible.
Call Your Chiropractor
As soon as you know that you have an injury, call ChiroCare of Florida to schedule a full injury evaluation with our chiropractors.
Chiropractic Treatment After a Fall
Over-the-counter pain medication and rest may provide relief, but for some slip and fall injuries, the respite is only temporary.
ChiroCare of Florida has helped many slip and fall victims with safe, natural chiropractic care plan. Using spinal adjustments and therapy, the doctors at ChiroCare of Florida can help you recover after a slip and fall. Furthermore, they will provide the knowledge you need to maintain a pain-free lifestyle after suffering such serious injuries.
You may need physical therapy, massage therapy, or instrument-assisted chiropractic treatment for back pain following a slip and fall injury. Our chiropractors will help form an individualized treatment plan to address your unique needs. Not every back injury from a slip and fall is the same, and no two treatment plans will be either.
Other Slip and Fall Accident Injuries
Accident and injury chiropractic is able to effectively treat a wide range of conditions and symptoms, even those that are not localized to the back or neck. That is because chiropractors study the entire muscular-skeletal system, meaning they are experts when it comes to all things muscle and bone-related. As many slip and fall injuries affect either one of these things, or both, that makes chiropractors excellently poised to provide patients with relief.
Accident injuries are quite serious and require prompt and professional treatment for the best prognosis. Getting the right treatment can help you shorten recovery time, lessen pain, and can increase your chances of making a full recovery. Additionally, accident and injury chiropractic care may be able to help you avoid more drastic medical options such as surgical intervention.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries, such as torn ligaments and tendons, muscle strains and sprains, and more, are common following a slip and fall accident. These injuries can negatively impact your quality of life quite a bit, interfering with your mood and happiness, hurting your quality of sleep, and imposing physical limitations on your daily activities.
Those with soft tissue injuries may experience pain, loss of motion and stiffness, weakness, numbness, and more. However, accident and injury chiropractic can help. Our doctors will use a variety of techniques based on the type and extent of your unique injury.
Common chiropractic techniques to help alleviate the symptoms associated with soft tissue injuries include physical rehabilitation, massage therapy, acupuncture, instrument-assisted therapy, cryotherapy, ultrasound therapy, hot and cold treatment, and more.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are another common slip and fall accident injury, and they can result in severe and long-lasting pain, particularly if they do not heal properly the first time. Broken bones can lead to further muscular-skeletal problems and conditions, such as subluxation, joint restriction, and more.
These injuries can cause pain, weakness, numbness, loss of motion and strength, and more. Luckily, accident and injury chiropractic can help. Chiropractors can help re-align joints to restore range of motion and relieve any pressure points on nerves or surrounding tissue. Additionally, therapies such as physical therapy can help restore strength and alleviate pain.
How Does Chiropractic Care Help Slip and Fall Injuries?
Here at ChiroCare of Florida, we are extremely thorough in our evaluation of patients. At your first appointment we will go over any medical records that you may have from doctors who treated you immediately after your slip or fall. We will ask questions about any prior injuries, surgeries, and medical conditions so that we can best treat you.
We will also discuss your back injury from the fall. We will discuss the type of pain you feel, the location where the pain occurs, and how it is affecting your everyday life. Then, we will perform a physical evaluation, examining your spine, testing for range of motion or stiffness, look for the presence of muscle pain, and more. We may order X-rays to get a comprehensive look at your spine to ensure that you receive the proper chiropractic treatment for back pain. The professional team at ChiroCare of Florida is here to ensure you get the best slip and fall injury treatment to stop the pain in its tracks.
Exercises for Increasing Mobility
Additionally, following your first appointment we may recommend that you do light exercises at home in between treatment sessions. Exercises may include light stretching or gentle motions to help increase range of motion and reduce stiffness.
We will let you know what you should and should not feel during these exercises. If you experience heightened pain, you should let us know immediately and stop the exercise until we can evaluate the source of pain and how your back injury from a fall is affecting your ability to complete them successfully.
How to Treat Pain before Your Chiropractic Appointment
Before seeking chiropractic care for back pain, you may need to treat symptoms at home until you can make it into the office. Give us a call, and when booking your appointment we can recommend the best way to do so. We may advise you to treat the area with heat or cold depending on your symptoms.
Resting in bed, or comfortably on the sofa, may be your best option. It is best not to try to stretch or massage the pain away before our chiropractors evaluate you, in the event that there is a joint injury or damage done to soft muscle tissue. Sometimes these actions can inadvertently cause more harm than good.
