Back Injury
We use our backs for just about everything we do. We use them to stand, bend, push, etc. So, when you sustain a back injury, it can affect every aspect of your life. These injuries are typically sustained as a result of an accident, with car accidents being one of the most common events that cause a back injury. However, due to the deterioration of our spine over time, you could sustain a back injury doing a number of different activities such as lifting heavy objects, falling from a short or long distance, or an over-extension of you back playing sports. As such, the chances of you being involved in an accident or event that results in you sustaining a back injury are high. As a result, it’s important that you are able to identify the different types of back injuries that are typically sustained as a result of a physically traumatic event, the symptoms associated with a back injury, and the various treatment options that are available for accident victims with back injuries.Types of Back Injuries
Lumbar Sprain
Back injuries typically vary in severity with a lumbar sprain being one of the most minor types of back injuries you can sustain. Lumbar sprains are usually caused by the sudden movement associated with an event that causes spinal trauma such as a fall, being hit by an object, etc. These events cause the muscle fibers in your back to tear, which in turn results in the sprain. Symptoms associated with a lumbar sprain include:- Back pain that lasts 10 to 14 days maximum
- Stiffness in the lower back area
- Muscle spasms
- Lower back pain that radiates into the buttocks
Bulging or Herniated Lumbar Discs
Although lumbar sprains do occur, bulging or herniated lumbar discs are one of the most common types of back injuries incurred by accident victims. There are intervertebral discs in between each of the vertebrae in your spine, and when your spine sustains trauma, these discs can become swollen or inflamed, which is typically what is referred to as a bulging disc, or the disc can rupture, which is referred to as a herniated disc. Since there are also nerves in between each vertebra, a bulging or herniated disc can cause additional pain by putting pressure on or irritating a vertebral nerve. Common symptoms associated with a herniated or bulging disc are:- Pain in your buttocks, thighs, and calfs
- Pain in your arms and shoulders
- Numbness or tingling in various parts of your body
- Muscle weakness
Spinal Cords Injuries
One of the most severe types of back injuries you can sustain is an injury that either bruises, partially severs, or fully severs your spinal cord. This type of injury typically occurs due to severe accidents that cause accident victims to sustain injuries such as vertebral fractures or severe herniated disc injuries. Symptoms associated with a spinal cord injury include:- Temporary or permanent paralysis
- Loss of feeling in the legs or arms
- Loss of bowel function
- Breathing problems
- Chronic pain that is typically difficult to treat