Knowing the Severity of Your Injuries From a Slip and Fall Accident
The severity of injuries which may result from a slip and fall accident can vary on a case by case basis. That said, with falls yielding a record number of emergency room visits, it’s clear you could experience serious pain after an accident.
That’s why it pays to familiarize yourself with common slip and fall injuries symptoms. Knowing what to be on the lookout for helps you know how to treat a fall effectively.
Symptoms and Common Slip and Fall Injuries
Hitting one’s head is among the most common injuries from falling down stairs. If you bang your head, seek medical attention even if you don’t notice symptoms. Concussion symptoms aren’t always noticeable, and often, they don’t manifest right away.
Understanding how to treat a fall in which you hit your head starts with knowing what symptoms to look out for. Potential signs of a concussion include:
- Headache
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Ringing in ears
Symptoms of concussions can linger on if left untreated and therefore require evaluation by a medical doctor. Recovery from a concussion includes allowing your brain to heal by avoiding bright lights, loud sounds, reducing screen time (tv’s, computers, cell phones) and allowing ample rest. Once concussion symptoms have resolved it is important to utilize physical therapy for guidance on proper progression back to daily activities and proper progression back to more rigorous activities such as running and sports.
Soft tissue injuries are also among common slip and fall injuries. Often, a person doesn’t spot any outward signs of harm when they do. That’s because the damaged tissue is internal. This is another reason it’s important to monitor your symptoms and then determine the best treatment after a fall.
For example, maybe you’ve fallen victim to the common slip and fall injury of falling down the stairs onto your back. If this is the case, it’s essential to know what to do. It’s not uncommon to experience lower back pain from falling down stairs. If your back pain after falling down the stairs persists for a few days, seeking medical attention is advised. Depending on the severity of the back pain, you can either see a physical therapist or a medical doctor as your first point of contact.
How to Treat a Fall
Minor pain from a slip and fall injury might go away with rest. Applying an ice pack or taking over-the-counter pain medication can also help.
That said, it’s particularly important to see a doctor and scheduled an appointment with a physical therapist if the pain doesn’t subside after a few weeks (even if the discomfort feels relatively minor). Severe pain and/or back pain that’s accompanied by other common slip and fall injuries symptoms like abdominal discomfort or numbness around the back and surrounding area also warrants a doctor visit.
A sprain or strain is another injury you may sustain and could indicate a slip and fall back injury. This can result in neck pain after falling down the stairs or a similar accident. Neck or back pain after falling down could also signal a spinal cord injury. These types of spine injuries from falls may result in paralysis. Thus, it’s best to head to the emergency room if changes in sensation in your legs or arms develop.
Slip and fall accidents can commonly result in broken bones. These may require immobilization in a cast or even surgery. Broken bones could cause internal bleeding if left untreated, so understanding the best treatment after a fall can help avoid worst-case scenarios like these.
Why You Should Seek Out a Professional to Provide the Best Treatment After a Fall
These are all reasons to see a doctor or a physical therapist after a slip and fall accident. If your lower back pain or other type of pain from falling down stairs is only minor, you might try basic remedies like an ice pack first. However, the only way to truly know how severe your injuries are and to learn the best treatment after a fall is to let a professional evaluate you. It is better to be proactive about your injury instead of ignoring it because research shows that early medical attention leads to faster healing times.
A medical professional will determine how to treat a fall properly. That may involve everything from physical therapy to surgery depending on the extent of your slip and fall injury or back pain. Luckily, by taking their advice and acting fast, your odds of a fast and smooth recovery increase in a big way.
In order to learn the best treatment after a fall, you should consult with a physical therapist. They can prescribe an exercise plan for easing discomfort and enhancing recovery from common injuries from a slip and fall injury. To find a physical therapist near you and book an appointment, use the BetterPT website or BetterPT app. You will feel comfortable up on your feet again after your slip and fall back pain or injury in no time!