When Should I Worry About Back Pain After a Fall?

Falling is never something that an adult expects. You might feel awkward and embarrassed, and your first instinct is to get up and brush it off. However, just because you can get up and walk away doesn't mean you're not hurt. Pain could come on in the hours and days after a fall. In fact, delayed onset back pain is a common symptom when there is a spinal injury, herniated disc, or soft tissue injury.
 
Immediately after a fall, your body releases a flood of adrenaline to deal with pain and trauma, which may initially make a victim feel okay. However, as the stress of the situation subsides, so do the effects of adrenaline. You may start to feel a slow onset of back pain in the hours, days, or weeks after the accident. Because of this, we urge our clients to get medical care after any type of accident.
 
By taking care of yourself quickly, you can address the issue before it worsens. Early intervention is critical to contain the damage in the event of a spinal cord injury. From a legal perspective, the longer you take to get medical attention, the more challenging an insurance claim can become. This is because an insurance adjuster could easily argue that some other activity caused any injuries you have.

The spine and attached ligaments, nerves, and muscles are critical parts of the human body. When pain or loss of function is present, it can have resounding effects on your life as a whole. Some injuries may resolve on their own with rest and superficial treatments like heating or ice packs. Still, some may require more intense intervention, like surgery and physical therapy. Here are some common back ailments that you may experience after a fall.
 
Whiplash - Most people associate whiplash with auto accidents. However, falls can also cause whiplash, as any rapid back-and-forth movement of your head can cause this painful injury. Whiplash occurs at the uppermost portion of the spine and can cause pain that lasts for days or even weeks. For some, whiplash pain can be chronic. A sudden back-and-forth jolt can stretch and tear neck muscles and tendons. You may need time and rest to recover. However, some people require physical therapy, neck injections, collars, and even surgery to recover.
 
Muscle strains and sprains - The lower back comprises muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support the body's weight. Any damage to these muscles and tissues can cause debilitating pain. A lumbar sprain occurs when the tissues that hold bones together become overly stretched or torn. The discomfort may feel like it's radiating into your buttocks but doesn't impact the legs. You may not be able to maintain your normal posture, and your range of motion may be restricted. Recovery usually consists of a mix of physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and home exercises that your doctor will recommend.
 
Spinal cord injuries - A spinal cord injury is by far the most serious back injury. The spinal cord is an integral part of the body, consisting of a mass of nerves and tissues connecting your brain to the rest of the body. When a fall damages the spinal cord, the effects can be severe and life-altering. Total or partial paralysis could be a result of spinal cord injuries, as is the possibility of lifelong chronic pain. Other lesser-considered effects of spinal cord injuries are the possibility of infection, spinal fluid leaks, and blood clots.
 
Other back injuries - While a back injury may resolve on its own or with medical care, some injuries can trigger other conditions or make you more vulnerable to developing them over time. For example, degenerative disc disease can be brought on by a traumatic event such as a fall. This disease causes a host of health conditions, such as:

• Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Pinched nerves
• Bone spurs
• Degenerative scoliosis
• Spondylolisthesis

 Another example is facet joint spine injuries which are usually attributed to age and cartilage degeneration. However, if you have a spine injury, this condition may be a side effect that may impact you prematurely. To alleviate the symptoms, you may need physical therapy and medications.

The information provided above should demonstrate how important it is to take care of your back pain. Timely intervention could make a significant difference in your prognosis. Talk to your doctor about the circumstances of your fall so they can indicate the cause of the injury in your medical records. This will be crucial in an insurance claim.
 
Once you're diagnosed, follow your doctor's instructions religiously and attend all follow-up care appointments. Deviating from their plan of treatment or disregarding it could endanger your chances for compensation. The reason is that if you disregard or ignore your doctor's advice, you give the responsible party's insurance company an excuse to argue that your injuries must not be that serious.
 
Once you've been to a doctor and been diagnosed, it's time to talk with our slip-and-fall lawyers at Morgan and Morgan. Suppose the accident occurred on someone else's property with a dangerous condition that led to your injury. In that case, you may have the ability to recover compensation through a premises liability claim.
 
We realize that if you're looking up information concerning when you should worry about back pain after a fall, it may be too late to recover evidence at the scene of the accident. However, that may only sometimes be the case. Suppose the dangerous condition still exists on the property (such as an unmarked excavation). In that case, it may still be possible to take photographic evidence. Still, if your injury is severe, you may not be able to take the steps necessary to procure and preserve evidence.
 
Once we accept your claim, our slip-and-fall lawyers at Morgan and Morgan may be able to visit you wherever you are, discuss further details of your case, and initiate an investigation. In the meantime, it would help if you could write down all the details that you can remember that may have led to your fall. For example:
 

• Liquid spills on the floor
• Icy or snowy entrances, sidewalks, or parking lot
• Recently mopped floors with no warning signs
• Broken or unstable hand railings
• Debris in the walkway
• Poorly maintained staircase
• Uneven or broken flooring
• Significant cracking on the sidewalk or pavement
• Cables in the pathway

Workers' compensation insurance should cover on-the-job injuries. Worker's compensation should cover your medical expenses plus about two-thirds of your average weekly wage if you're unable to work while your injuries heal. Laws and conditions for eligibility vary by state, but they all have one thing in common. You must report your injury to your supervisor as soon as possible after the accident, and the injury must have occurred while doing your normal work as an employee "on the clock." If it's been a short while, and you still need to report the accident, you may still have time, but getting your claim approved might be a little more challenging.
 
The simple reason for this is that much like an injury on someone else's property, the longer you go without seeking medical care, the harder it is to convince an insurance adjuster that their client has liability.
 
As for the injury occurring at the workplace, this is a condition of workers' compensation. For a valid workers' compensation claim, you have to have been engaged in some action that is a requirement of your job at the time of the fall. Many people are able to file workers' comp claims with no issue. However, when you have a dispute concerning your claim, the slip-and-fall lawyers at Morgan and Morgan may be able to help.
 
You have a right to file for workers' compensation whenever you're hurt at work. Employers are prohibited by law from taking any retaliatory measures against you. Should you experience any attempt to dissuade or deny your ability to file a claim, there may be consequences for your employer.

An accurate diagnosis is critical for your health and to bolster a claim for insurance money after an injury caused by a fall. After you've received medical care, you should contact us for a free case evaluation. Our slip-and-fall lawyers will give you an honest opinion on your chances for a successful claim and your legal options. You deserve justice for your injuries and losses. No upfront fee is required, and you won't owe us a penny if we can't recover compensation. Talk to one of our compassionate case evaluators today.