Live in USA
Done something to your back as of recently? Have you been left uncomfortable
or in pain? Back injuries make up 20% of all injuries that occur in the
workplace due to lifting heavy objects and straining oneself, and more than one
million people suffer from one in the US each year. This article will show you
how to recover from an injury in order to hopefully prevent permanent damage or
complications.
Figure out where the core area of the injury is. This can be
difficult when you have pain throbbing up and down your spine, as it may seem to
come from every part of the back. However, with an injury there should be one
main focal area. Press gently along your spine with your fingers, starting with
the lower back and moving upwards. You may need someone to help you do this;
some areas of the spine are difficult to get to.
Assess how bad the injury
is. There are mainly two types of back pain: acute or chronic. Acute is a type
of injury or illness that is there for a few days and then goes away, best
described as coming and going. Symptoms are often reasonably intense and heal in
around 4-6 weeks. Chronic pain is more of a persistent pain that lasts between
3-6 months.
Obviously, if you are in so much pain that you cannot walk, or
are finding it hard to feel your legs, get somebody to take you to hospital. Do
not try to take yourself there; if your back worsens and you find you cannot
move you may end up stuck somewhere on the way, and possibly may end up in
danger. 3 out of 4, or 75% of back injuries occur in the lower back, possibly
the most dangerous place to damage the spine as this is where the legs are most
likely to be affected. Take special precautions if this is where you have
injured yourself. You may also want to seek immediate medical attention if you
develop or have developed the following symptoms:
A feeling of numbness in
the pelvis or lower back, and the area surrounding it.
Shooting pains down
one or both legs.
Feeling weak or unsteady when you try to stand, or your
legs suddenly giving way beneath you either when you are standing normally or
bending.
Problems with controlling bowel or bladder movement.
See a doctor
or osteopath. An osteopath is someone who deals with the bones in the body and
tries to resolve any underlying problems or injuries that may have occurred.
They can often be quite expensive though, so it may be best to see a doctor
first and see if you can be referred to a physiotherapist, who may be
considerably cheaper.
It's a good idea to spend the first few days in bed
until the pain becomes more comfortable - and especially before you can see your
osteopath, doctor or physiotherapist. Watch some DVDs or some TV, read a few
good books, and keep yourself entertained. Do not spend too long in bed though,
because this can make your back stiff, which can slow the healing process.
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