If you’ve experienced a slip and fall injury, you might be surprised to learn that your chiropractor can help. There are many different types of treatments that we can provide for the various types of injuries you can get from an accident. Read on to learn more about these injuries and how your chiropractor can get you back on your feet again.
Common Slip and Fall Injuries
When you slip and fall, there are several injuries you may be likely to sustain. Sprains and strains are common, especially in ankles, as your muscles and ligaments get pulled in directions they weren’t meant to go. You may also strain, bruise, or dislocate your shoulders as you attempt to catch yourself.
Back injuries are among the most common results of a fall, especially among older adults. You may slip or rupture a disk, strain the ligaments in your back, or experience bruising. Many people also injure their necks, including tearing their muscles and ligaments or even getting whiplash.
Symptoms of These Injuries
You may experience several different symptoms after a slip and fall injury. Of course, the most common symptom is pain, especially if you’ve suffered some type of strain, sprain, or tear. This pain may last only a few weeks in the case of a bruise or may go on for weeks, months, or even years after the accident.
Some people experience numbness or tingling sensations after a fall that left them with a back injury. You might also experience dizziness or vertigo. Some people find that they have a more limited range of motion after their injury. Bruises are a tremendously common side effect after a fall, including bruised ribs and hips.
Adjustments for Vertigo
If you’re experiencing vertigo or dizziness after your fall, visiting a chiropractor can help you regain your sense of balance. If you injured your back or neck in the fall, you might have slipped a disc and pinched the fibrous material that protects your vertebrae. A slipped disc can start to squeeze your nerves, which can cause the overwhelming dizziness you’re experiencing.
Chiropractic treatment can help to realign your discs and relieve pressure on those nerves. Your chiropractor may also be able to do a maneuver that helps reset your inner ear and restore any disruption that may have occurred there. Neither procedure is invasive or painful, and when a licensed chiropractor performs them, they can alleviate much of your discomfort.
Realigning Your Back
Even if you aren’t experiencing vertigo, you may be experiencing back pain that can range significantly in severity. A fall can throw your back out of alignment, causing your discs, vertebrae, and other parts of your spine to press on your nerves. This can limit your range of motion, cause headaches, and cause severe back pain.
One of the treatments chiropractors specialize in is realigning your spine. They use their hands or special tools to apply a controlled, sudden force to specific points on your back and neck. This helps shift your spine back into alignment, relieve pressure on your spinal column, and alleviate your pain.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury, infection, and other damage. Your body sends blood to that area so that it can remove harmful substances and provide plenty of oxygen to facilitate the healing process. However, when it continues too long, inflammation can become a severe problem and cause significant discomfort.
There are several ways a chiropractor can help reduce your inflammation. First of all, realigning your back can help lower your body’s production of neuropeptides, which can cause more inflammation. It can also slow the production of cytokines, proteins that work with your immune system, and may cause swelling.
Relieve Pressure
Of course, one of the biggest problems you may suffer after a slip and fall injury is increased pressure on your spinal column. Your vertebrae and discs may have shifted during the fall. These could be pressing into the nerves that run down the center of your spine. A misaligned back can result in tingling, numbness, loss of function, and intense pain.
A chiropractic adjustment works to move your discs and vertebrae back where they belong. Removing this pressure on your nerves can alleviate some of your pain, as well as restore motor function. In some cases, chiropractic care can be a much less invasive alternative to back surgery to correct this issue.
Learn to Prevent a Slip and Fall Injury
You might be surprised to learn that not only can your chiropractor help you recover from a fall, but they can also help prevent future falls, too. Because chiropractors so often deal with these injuries, they’ve learned some techniques that can help reduce your risk of a fall. Working with your inner ear may improve your balance and keep you on your feet.
Staying active and wearing sensible shoes that fit you properly and have nonskid soles can help you avoid a fall. There may also be tripping hazards around your home that increase your risk of falling that you should be aware of. Adding extra features like additional lights, handrails, a raised toilet seat, and shower grab bars can keep you safe when you’re moving around your home.
Get Treatment for a Slip and Fall Injury
Slip and fall injuries can be severe and can cause long-term pain and limitations. Your chiropractor may be able to provide some treatments that can reduce your pain and restore your quality of life. They can help manage vertigo, realign your back, relieve pressure, and even teach you how to stay steady on your feet.
If you need treatment for a slip and fall injury, check out the rest of our site at Momentum Medical. We are a team of compassionate and professional injury doctors who help people obtain safe, long-term relief from pain. Find a location near you today and discover how we can help with your pain.