Back Pain After a Fall: A Complete Guide

Back pain is surprisingly common – the CDC estimates that almost four out of ten Americans had back pain in 2019, and it was more frequent in the elderly.

The causes of this pain can vary widely. Arthritis and old injuries are just some of the reasons why seniors may have backaches. But one other significant cause is falls – which happen to one in four older people each year.

Back pain can be very alarming and unpleasant. If you experience it after a fall, what should you do? Read on to learn more.

Likely causes of backpain after a fall

What could trigger back pain after a fall?

There’s actually a variety of potential causes. One main one, of course, is impact against the back during the fall. Another one is twisting or stress on the back during the fall or while attempting to stop the fall.

The results of a fall can also vary widely. Some back pain after a fall may be mild or go away soon. A bruise, strain or sprain might fall under this category.

But back pain after an injury can also be much more serious – and it’s not always possible for a person to tell what’s a serious injury and what’s not. A muscle spasm can occur as a result of an awkward twisting motion or stress on the back during the fall. And an impact injury could be a fracture or chipped vertebra. Slipped (herniated) discs and even spinal cord damage can potentially result from a fall.

An elderly person who has osteoporosis may also be at greater risk of a fracture.

What you should do

Immediately after a fall occurs, there’s often no need for the person who has fallen to get up as soon as possible. It may be a good idea for them to rest for a moment and assess how they feel. Getting up could aggravate an injury, so it’s worth taking a minute to breathe, get your thoughts in order and consider whether there’s pain and where it might be. This includes back pain and other sources of pain, too.

If a person, particularly a senior, has back pain after a fall, medical attention is a must. The spinal cord is crucial and delicate, so it’s not worth risking further harm by delaying medical treatment.

Numbness and weakness are some signs of concern in addition to pain. They’re also strong reasons to see a doctor about a back injury from a fall. But even if a person who has fallen isn’t experiencing serious pain right away, that doesn’t mean their back wasn’t harmed. Long story short – we’re not always able to tell whether our own backs are badly injured or not, so a medical professional needs to make that call.

A main question to consider is whether an older person can safely get up from the floor by themself after a fall. If a back injury is severe, they may damage their back further by attempting to get up. In this situation, they may need an ambulance and paramedics who know how to safely move a person with a back injury.

It’s worth remembering that experts don’t recommend that untrained friends or family try to lift an injured person off the floor. Attempting to lift a person without knowing the correct techniques can result in the rescuer dropping the injured person or straining their own back. So, if a person physically cannot stand or raise themself from the floor, that’s another strong reason to call an ambulance.

How to prevent falls in future

The good news about falls is that there are many steps you can take to reduce your risks.

One is to fall-proof your home. That means:

• Securing rugs so they can’t slip or curl up
• Adding good lighting everywhere, but especially around stairs
• Adding grab bars in the bathroom around the toilet, bath, and shower
• Ensuring there are sturdy handrails around stairs
• Moving objects so they are comfortably within reach
• De-icing driveways, porches, and walkways. Get help removing snow in a safe way.

Other steps to lower chances of a fall have to do with personal health. Maintaining a healthy weight and doing safe, appropriate exercise can keep strength and stability up for seniors. It’s also important to have eye exams to keep your vision as sharp as possible, and wear any eyeglasses prescribed. Lastly, if you have any medications that make you feel dizzy, talk to your doctor.

There are things you can purchase to reduce your risks, too. Footwear should be fastened onto the feet – no slip-on shoes that can easily slip off. And if a doctor has suggested you should use a cane or walker, it’s best to use it. Although such a device can feel like a hassle, it can ultimately keep you more mobile than you might be after a bad fall.

Importance of a fall alarm

The above actions can certainly reduce your chances of a fall. But, of course, there is no perfect way to completely prevent falls.

That’s why a second layer of protection is needed. It’s easy to imagine using a phone to call for help if an emergency occurs – but in reality, that may not be possible. A phone is likely to be on a high surface, out of reach. Even if it happens to be nearby, a person who has fallen due to dizziness or a medical episode may not be well enough to go through the process of dialing a phone.

A medical alert or fall alarm is what’s needed. This type of device lets an older person press a single button to call for help when they have fallen, preventing the upsetting experience of lying on the floor and being unable to stand and move around. Getting help fast also prevents consequences like hypothermia and dehydration that can happen when a person remains on the floor after falling.

In fact, a fall detection alarm has another feature that offers even more protection to seniors. Fall detection technology uses sensors and an algorithm to determine whether a fall has happened. If a device with this function concludes that it has sensed a fall, it will call for help all by itself – no need to even press a button. This is crucial for an older person who is unconscious and unable to take any action to get help. And it’s something that a mobile phone certainly can’t do.

Get protection in case of falls from SureSafe

Why do we know so much about falls? Because at SureSafe we’re experts in keeping seniors safe with medical alert devices. We know that falls are a serious threat to elderly people’s wellbeing – and that the right medical alert can make all the difference.

Curious to know more about our fall detection alarms? We’re here to help! You can use our contact form, call our helpline at 888 540 7193, or email us at [email protected]. You can also live chat with us or simply request a call back.