How do you know if your back injury is serious?

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Ouch! You've just injured your back and you don’t know if you should see a doctor? First of all stop doing whatever it was that caused the back injury.

While some back injuries get better after a couple of days of rest, others are serious enough to require medical attention. Back pain is usually an indicator of damage or trauma to the bones, muscles, and tissues in the back. The common types of back injuries include strains and sprains, herniated discs, and vertebral fractures. We've put together a symptom checklist to gauge what action you need to take:

You cannot stand or walk

Your back injury is serious if you experience severe pain by simply standing up to walk. At other times, you may feel numbness or pain that radiates down your legs and arms. This means that the back injury has affected your nerves and thus you need urgent treatment. Numbness in the legs and hands may be a symptom of a herniated disc in the lower spine. A serious back injury makes your back unusable and you can't bend or twist your waist. Instead, you move your whole body like a robot. Medical action should be a priority!

Pins and Needles

When you experience tingling or pins and needles sensation, your back injury is serious. A tingling sensation is a prevalent symptom of a herniated disc and occurs in the affected area. A herniated disc gets worse when you stand for long periods. You should go to the emergency rooms!

Notable Pain and Swelling

A significant back injury is accompanied by extreme pain and swelling. If you feel notable pain and experience some swelling after a back injury, you need to see a doctor. Intense back pain that disrupts your daily activities, sleep, and limits movement requires medical attention. A severe back injury disrupts your day-to-day work. If you have injured your back at work and find you are unable to work you should consider trying to get a settlement for an injury case as this will cover any time off your lose and more.

Do not leave a serious back injury untreated for long because you are prolonging the healing process.

Neck Pain

Neck pain is a clear indication that something is wrong with your back. It could be a sign that you have a slipped disc in your neck. A slipped disc compresses your spine and puts your nerves under intense pressure. This intense pressure makes you encounter soreness and discomfort in your neck.

Weakness and Fever

A serious back injury often leads to body weakness and negatively affects your motor skills. You may have difficulty grasping objects and lifting things that you do not normally have trouble with. Your back injury is serious if it is accompanied by a fever. A fever often indicates that something is wrong somewhere.

Back injuries are common and emanate from damage and injury of bones and muscles of the back. They should not be brushed off because they can lead to serious consequences and health issues if left untreated. Use these warning signs to determine whether your back injury is a cause for concern. Remember to give your body plenty of time to heal after a back injury treatment before resuming your daily routine.