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Birmingham personal injury attorneys at Drake Injury Lawyers

Back Injuries: Understanding Causes and Solutions

Posted on April 3, 2024

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Back injuries are among the most common health concerns not only in the United States but all over the world. From minor back pain to limited mobility, a back injury can have a great impact on an individual’s daily activities as well as their quality of life.

Generally, back injuries happen when there is damage to your back’s muscles, nerves, bones or joints and connective tissue. It could be a result of an accident, a workplace incident or other degenerative conditions.

Whatever the root cause is, one thing is for certain – back injuries can have a tremendous effect on your life as it can lead to reduced productivity, missed workdays along with lost wages and not to mention the mounting medical expenses.

Thus, understanding the different causes of back injuries can help individuals take precautionary measures and explore various effective solutions to help prevent or effectively treat those who seek to avoid or mitigate the risk of long-term complications of back injuries.

Common Causes of Back Pain and Injuries

Accidents and trauma

Whether it was a high-speed collision or a low-speed collision, car accidents can result in back injuries due to the heavy impact of the crash.

Some of the most common back injuries people sustain from car accidents include whiplash, sprains and strains, herniated disks, soft tissue injuries, fractures and sometimes traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

Slip and fall incidents

Slips and trips lead to accidents which can lead to various types of injuries including back injuries. In some slip and fall accidents, the symptoms of back injuries can vary depending on the severity of the fall. Some symptoms may be short-term while others may take longer to heal.

The most common back injuries you may experience resulting from slip and fall accidents include herniated disk, muscle sprains and strains, tailbone bruising or breaking, nerve damage or pinched nerves, as well as spinal cord fracture.

Sports-related injuries

Exercise and sports play a vital role in helping individuals achieve a healthy body. However, people may also acquire back injuries from sports-related activities. Some of these are injuries to the spine, lower back injury, neck injury and upper back injury.

Workplace injuries

Most of the time, work-related back injuries range from minor strains and sprains to more serious injuries such as herniated disks, nerve damage, fractures as well as spinal cord injuries. These workplace injuries are usually a result of slip and fall accidents and direct, blunt trauma.

Degenerative conditions

Back injuries can cause people a lot of pain and sometimes even lead to certain degenerative conditions. A degenerative disease occurs when an individual’s spinal disk wears down or changes for the worse over time. Some examples of degenerative conditions are osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and herniated disks.

Poor posture and sedentary lifestyle

While accidents and injuries are the most common causes of back pain, there are other factors that may contribute to it, such as poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle.

Poor habits include slouching, standing with the weight of your body concentrated on one leg, lifting heavy objects by bending your back and many more. These improper postures can put pressure or cause stress to develop within your spinal joints, muscle tissues and discs, resulting in back pain.

A sedentary lifestyle can also result in back pain as it decreases the body’s flexibility all the while increasing its stiffness. Because of this, people tend to limit their movement which then results in a weakness in the muscles of the different parts of the body.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Back Injuries

Common symptoms

Generally, the symptoms of back pain vary depending on its type, cause and severity. It could range from a minor ache to a stabbing or shooting type of sensation. Some of the most common symptoms of back pain include:

  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Limited mobility

Diagnostic tools

To assess the severity and cause of back pain, the following diagnostic tests may be done:

Treatment Options for Back Pain Relief

Addressing back pain may vary depending on what is causing it, as well as how intense it is. The treatment options for back pain relief are the following:

Conservative treatments

Alternative therapies

Surgical interventions

In cases where back pain cannot be treated by medications or any other alternative therapy, individuals may undergo certain surgical interventions to treat back pain. Some of these include:

Preventing Back Injuries and Promoting Spinal Health

While accidents are unforeseen, there are some things you can do to help prevent back injuries and promote spinal health. These include changing your lifestyle and proper body mechanics.

Maintaining Good Posture

Maintaining good posture is very important in promoting your spinal health and preventing back injuries as it helps in distributing weight evenly and, at the same time, reduces strain on the spine.

Good posture can be achieved by stretching regularly, ergonomic workstation setups and being mindful of your body position throughout the day.

Exercising Regularly

Improving your overall fitness and taking regular exercises focusing on strengthening your core and flexibility can also help relieve stiffness and muscle tension, reducing the occurrence of back pain.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is also very important, as excess body weight can shift your center of gravity and put pressure on your back, resulting in back pain. Taking good care of your body and maintaining a healthy weight helps lower the risk of back pain.

Using Proper Lifting Techniques

One of the most common causes of back pain is heavy lifting which is why using proper lifting techniques while engaging in physical tasks is important to prevent back injuries.

In cases where back injuries are a result of someone’s actions or lack thereof, it is important to keep in mind the legal considerations for back injury cases. The first crucial step in a back injury case is determining fault and proving liability.

Whether the injury occurred as a result of a workplace incident or an accident, gathering evidence is imperative in establishing the fault of the liable party.

Determining fault is usually done through investigation – gathering all existing evidence in the scene of the accident, interviewing witnesses as well as consulting medical experts to help determine the cause and severity of the injury.

Once fault has been established, the injured party may seek compensation for the injuries and damages sustained. This includes medical expenses, lost wages or loss of income as well as pain and suffering.

Typically, a lawyer is hired to help individuals deal with and navigate the legal complexities associated with back injury cases. They offer their clients essential legal guidance and serve as their legal representation.

Moreover, they are also the ones who negotiate with the insurance companies to ensure proper compensation is being given and in cases where insurance companies try to undervalue or deny the injured party’s claim, they may represent the injured party in court if necessary.

Back injuries are a very common medical problem. In fact, everyone is at risk of experiencing back pain at some point in their lives. However, whatever the cause is, it is important to seek proper medical attention and legal advice for back injuries.

In cases where your back injury is caused by an accident or another person’s negligence, it is advisable to consult a personal injury attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive proper compensation from the responsible party.

Our legal experts at Drake Injury Lawyers can build a strong case on your behalf through comprehensive accident investigation, evidence collection, qualified experts, legal counsel and advice, and connecting you to the best doctors.

If you or your loved one has suffered an injury, call our office at (205) 679-5267 for a free case review or contact us by filling out our secure and confidential form.