Is Your Back Injury Serious?
By Sara Butler
Back pain and injury happen to most people at some point in their long lives. In fact, about 80 percent of Americans suffer from back pain at any given time, ranging from minor aches and pains to severe pain. The trouble is how do you know when you’ve really done something serious to hurt your back? Did you just move the wrong way and strain a muscle or is something more serious going on? Here’s how you can tell if your back pain is something you, and your chiropractor, need to be concerned about.
Pain or Swelling
If you have a significant back injury then you will notice some pain and swelling, but if you feel more than minor pain, or you experience excessive swelling, then you need to see your chiropractor. How do you know if the pain is significant? You might experience:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Pain that keeps you from performing basic tasks
- Pain that severely limits movement
If you leave a serious injury untreated for any length of time, then you are only prolonging the healing process. The sooner you see your chiropractor about it, the sooner the healing can begin.
You Can’t Stand or Walk
If you’ve ever had a back sprain or strain you know that it can make standing and walking difficult. However, you should see your chiropractor immediately if you experience:
- Tingling in the arms or legs
- Shooting pain in the arms or legs
- Pain when lifting your arms above your head
These symptoms may be an indication that the nerves are being impacted by an injury as they exit your spinal column, and that can mean something more serious is going on.
You Can’t Move the Joint
If you are experiencing pain or swelling that has made your back unusable, basically making you move as a robot would because you have to move your entire body instead of bending or twisting, then you need your chiropractor. The robot should be saved for the dancefloor, not as a way to get around after a back injury.
Other Warning Signs
If you have a simple strain or sprain it can be treated with ice and a little bit of rest (not too much!) but if you experience these other symptoms you may have something else going on:
- Bumps or lumps not related to swelling
- Red streaks across your back
- Pain with walking that is serious
If at any time you experience any of these symptoms, then you need to get into see your chiropractor at The Joint as soon as you can. Since you don’t need an appointment you can do the robot right on in.
