Slip and fall injuries are some of the most common injuries that occur, especially to adults over 50. More than one million people visit the emergency room for slip and fall injuries each year. Five percent of all slip and fall injuries involve a broken bone, and 20-30% of all slip and falls result in serious injuries. If you are involved in a slip and fall, there are some steps you need to take to make sure that you are ok, and that you don’t have serious injuries.
You may not think you need to go to the doctor, or that you need a second opinion. However, this might not be a good idea. As suggested by a personal injury lawyer in Long Island from the Barnes Firm, it is always best to have a second opinion. Injuries can take time to show up, so always seek professional advice before deciding on the next steps. Here is some information about injuries you need to pay attention to after a slip and fall.
Knee Injuries and Knee Pain
One of the most common injuries that occur because of a slip and fall is knee injuries or knee pain. Knee pain from a slip and fall could be a torn ligament, bone damage or fracture, or a severe cut. If you are having knee pain, another complication of a slip and fall could be a blot clot behind the knee. Blood clots can be extremely serious. They can travel to a lung, the heart, or the brain, and cause severe injuries or even death. If you have knee pain, you will knee to get your knee checked out by a doctor.
Still, if you believe your knee injuries or pain isn’t that severe, home treatment remedies may be an excellent option. For instance, it’s important to rest your injured knee by avoiding activities that put stress on your knee, such as walking, jumping, or running. If your knee is painful and swelling, applying ice to the affected area for at least 15 to 20 minutes several times a day would help. You may also consider taking some over-the-counter pain relievers to relieve pain and inflammation. Lastly, gentle stretching can be an excellent idea to improve the range of motion and flexibility in the knee.
By considering these home treatments, you can effectively manage your knee injuries or pain caused by a slip and fall accident.
Headache
If you slip and fall, you need to think about whether or not you hit your head when you fell. A sudden fall, especially as you age, can have tremendous impacts on your head and neck. Falls are the primary reason people sustain a traumatic brain injury, so it is important you pay attention to your injury. First, if you struck your head, you need to be evaluated for head trauma. Head trauma can include a concussion or even a fractured skull. Concussion symptoms include a headache, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness. If you aren’t seen by a doctor, a concussion could develop into a blood clot on the brain.
You might also experience whiplash if your head hits the floor. Whiplash can happen from an accident or a fall, and it is much like a sprain to your neck. If you have whiplash, you may have neck pain as well as a headache. If your neck is hurting, you will need to be evaluated to make sure that you don’t have a more serious neck injury. When your neck continues to hurt past the first day or two after your accident, you will need to have your neck examined.
Back and Spinal Cord
If you have a severe slip and fall, you may sustain injury to your back or spinal cord. In fact, falls cause over 30% of all injuries to spinal cords in the United States. It is natural for your back to hurt after a fall. However, you need to pay particular attention to these signs something else is going on. If you feel intense, severe, pain to your back, you need to be evaluated, because you may have a problem with a disc or with your spinal cord.
You may think your back is strong, but falls can cause a disk in your spinal column to fracture–or herniate. Other warning signs you need to look out for are numbness or tingling in your legs or neck, pain on one side of your body, and flashes or waves of pain on one side of your body. The pain might radiate from the spot of your injury outward.
Given these circumstances, seeking medical care from a specialist would be an excellent idea. For instance, if you sustained severe back or spinal cord injuries in a slip and fall accident in your workplace, a workers compensation neurologist can help. They specialize in diagnosing and treating neurological problems that affect some parts of the nervous system, including the spinal cord and the nerves.
Typically, neurologists who accept workers’ compensation play an essential role in helping you recover your health and function following a slip and fall accident at work. They can also help you receive the workers’ compensation benefits you’re entitled to.
On the other hand, if you suffer a slip and fall, there are some additional things you need to keep in mind. First, you will want to document your injury. If you are able, take pictures of the area where you fell. You also need to take a look around the area to see if there are cameras available that may have recorded your fall. Note anything in the area that might have contributed to your fall, such as liquid on the floor, obstructions in your way, or loose carpet or tile.
The more information you have, the better you will be able to give information to an attorney should you need one after your slip and fall. No matter what, get treatment for any injuries you have, because after the adrenaline from your fall goes away, you may be in considerable pain.
