Sometimes slip and fall accidents are easily recovered from, and our egos are hurt more than our physical bodies. Unfortunately, more severe falls can lead to more severe injuries, such as damage to the spinal cord. They’ll require more attention than just a bit of rest and should be attended to immediately.
Treatment after a spine injury is critical and shouldn’t be ignored. The spine is a delicate and complex part of the body and requires the care of a professional when injured due to a particularly severe fall. In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about how to recover from a spine injury.
Types of Spine Injuries
A serious slip and fall can cause a host of painful injuries. Torn muscles and bruises are common and are usually easily remedied. However, a nasty fall can cause damage to the spine, resulting in extreme pain along with other unpleasant conditions. Some common types of spine injuries as a result of a fall include:
- Spinal cord fractures
- Herniated (slipped) disks
- Coccyx (tailbone) damage
- Strained back muscles
Signs and symptoms of spine injuries can include:
- Back or neck pain
- Back muscle stiffness
- Breathing difficulties
- Numbness in the buttocks and down the legs
- A tingling sensation in the back and extremities
- Difficulties walking, standing, and other mobility issues
How to Recover From a Spine Injury
Chiropractic care can help to relieve pain, regain mobility and flexibility, and improve body strength and balance, which can help to reduce the chances of another falling accident. After a full evaluation by a licensed chiropractor, they can recommend a regime that will best benefit your specific injury.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Gentle manipulation of the neck and spine can help to relieve pressure from joints and nerves and can help to reduce or eliminate the pain associated with a spine or back injury. Over time, this can help to restore mobility and increase flexibility. Regular chiropractic adjustments are particularly helpful for patients suffering from herniated disks.
Spinal adjustments can improve blood flow to the back and spine, aiding healing. A spinal misalignment from a fall can be manipulated back into proper alignment using several different chiropractic techniques. Other injuries sustained from a fall, such as torn back muscles, can benefit from these adjustments by allowing the muscles to relax.
Physical Therapy
Although physical therapy won’t directly remedy a spinal cord fracture or herniated disk, it will help increase mobility and muscle strength. Increased flexibility and muscle strength can help to alleviate the pain associated with a spine injury and can also help to avoid another slip and fall accident.
A chiropractor can guide you through a series of different strengthening exercises and stretching routines to improve the condition of your back. These can be performed either in the office or at home.
Pain Management
In addition to spinal manipulations, flexibility, and strength training exercises, a chiropractor can also work with your physician to safely manage the pain associated with your spine injury.
Ultrasound Therapy
The use of ultrasound therapy can greatly reduce the pain from a spine injury. This non-invasive treatment involves the use of sound waves to increase blood flow to the affected area and can assist with relaxing the muscles. Although not directly treating the spinal injury, ultrasound therapy will help to heal the soft tissues that were also damaged.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has been used for eons to promote relaxation and stimulate healing. Spine injuries can cause stiff or sore muscles, and gentle muscle and soft tissue massage can increase blood flow and help the muscles to relax. Massage therapy can also help create space between the vertebrae, which can relieve pressure on the nerves.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation, sometimes referred to as E-STIM or ES, has been proven to help to relieve the pain from back or spine injuries. Using electrical pulses, your muscles will involuntarily tense and tighten, providing a massage-like feeling. ES helps to reduce back muscle spasms and can help to reduce inflammation, both of which are common in spine injuries.
Recovery From a Spine Injury After a Fall Is Possible
The pain from a spine injury after a fall can be excruciating. However, recovery from the injury and pain management during the healing process can be expedited with the assistance of chiropractic care. Spinal adjustments, massage, and electrical stimulation therapy are a few of the treatments a chiropractor can provide to ensure that you’re doing everything you can to heal quickly and safely.
