It can happen to anyone, anytime. A slippery walkway, icy sidewalks, or just tripping over a badly-placed area rug — a sudden fall can happen anywhere. Depending on where you fall and how severe it is, there are a plethora of injuries that can result. Here, we’ll consider the most common injuries and how to resolve the pain.
1) Head injuries are by far the most common injury sustained after a fall. A head injury can result in a minor concussion, or even a traumatic injury in a more severe fall. A concussion, no matter how severe, always needs treatment. Symptoms of a concussion can include headache, nausea, confusion, or vomiting. Although the word concussion may sound dramatic, even a seemingly minor fall involving head injury can result in trauma. Slippery leaves outside, a wet floor, or even stepping out of the bathtub can lead to a fall and a possible concussion.
2) Even minor trips and falls can cause broken bones, especially if you are prone to breaks due to osteoporosis. Broken bones, if not properly treated, can lead to a spiral of more aches and pains. Treating a break with careful therapy is a must to avoid later pain. If you suspect a broken bone, see a chiropractor trust right away. This will prevent any further injury to the area and will get you set in a plan of pain management and rehabilitation.
3) Shoulder injuries, such as dislocation, can easily take place when there is a sudden fall and you may reach out to break the fall. A dislocation or an injury to the brachial plexus nerves can take a toll on your body for the long-term. One way to avoid such injuries is to be careful in the way we descend to the floor during a fall. Tucking in our hands and not attempting to brace ourselves can deflect the possibility of shoulder injuries.
It is also important to slow down in our daily activities. We may be in a habit of rushing out the door and down the front steps, but that constant hurrying can easily turn into a fall and an injury. A few seconds extra to get out of bed, out of the shower, or down the front steps can do a lot to prevent an injury. Staying conscious and cognizant of our surroundings is especially important if we are prone to falls in the first place, or if we have issues with balance and proprioception.
Even if you’ve already suffered an injury, that doesn’t mean you have to get stuck in a cycle of chronic pain.
