What Happens When You Slip and Fall on Your Back?

January 6, 2023

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Every year, millions are injured in Slip and Fall Accidents, resulting in back and spinal injuries. These accidents can happen anytime, anywhere.

The chance of injury due to a slip, trip, or fall accident is very high in people over age 65. About one-third of that population falls, although most people do not report their falls to their doctor. Adding to the injury damage is that once you fall, the chance of falling again doubles.

Falling on your back from a slip is disconcerting because of the hidden injuries that could appear even without symptoms. Read on to learn about severe symptoms and when to see a doctor.

Common Consequences of a Back Fall

A slip-and-fall accident may affect everyone differently. Slip and fall injuries can range from minor to incredibly severe. Here are some injuries we often see in slip-and-fall accidents.

Mild Symptoms of a Back Fall

Signs you may have a back injury include:

pain or tenderness
intense pain that worsens with movement, coughing, sneezing, and/or laughing
stiffness and/or difficulty moving
difficulty standing up straight
muscles in spasm on both sides of the spine
bruising
swelling
pain that spreads down one or both legs

However, back pain has several causes. It could be caused by diseases such as osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, your age, physical fitness, smoking habits, being overweight, or the type of work you do.

It is important to find out the cause of your symptoms so they can be treated properly.

Severe Symptoms of a Back Fall

Severe back injuries include fractures, wounds, extensive bruising, and damage to your spinal cord and internal organs.

Any of the following symptoms could mean a severe back injury. See a doctor immediately if you have the following injury symptoms:

difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
difficulty urinating or passing stool
numbness and/or pins and needles to the arms, legs, hands, or feet
fever
paralysis
blood in the urine

Seek medical attention right away. Do not move the injured person unless they are in danger, and advise the person not to move their back. Support their head, neck, and spine and avoid twisting or bending movements.

Why Go to a Rehabilitation Doctor?

Apart from the signs of a severe back injury, you should see your doctor if:

your problems have not improved at all in a few days
your problems have not improved totally within 6 weeks

Your doctor may be able to help you manage any pain and may refer you for physical therapy or other investigations.

Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Slip and Fall Injuries

Here are 5 of the most common long-term complications of slip and fall injuries that victims can and should get compensation for through an injury claim or a premises liability lawsuit.

Paralysis

One of the most severe and life-changing potential consequences of a slip and fall injury is paralysis. When victims fall in a manner that causes them to injure their backs and necks, the forces generated by their falls can cause spinal cord injuries.

The spinal cord is extremely fragile, and once it’s injured, it’s rare for victims to regain function. Slip and fall victims may suffer paralysis affecting their legs, waists, torsos, arms, and even entire bodies below their heads.

Traumatic Brain Injury

When a person slips and falls, their head is vulnerable to serious injuries. Anytime someone hits their head on a hard surface, such as wood, tile, or concrete floor, they risk a traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries can range in severity from minor concussions to severe injuries that cause brain bleeds and even the death of brain tissue. People who suffer traumatic brain injuries may experience prolonged or lifelong complications ranging from cognitive deficits and emotional disturbances to personality changes and balance impairment.

Reduced or Lost Mobility

Anyone can suffer a broken hip during a slip-and-fall accident, but these injuries are most common in older adults whose hips have deteriorated due to age, osteoporosis, and previous injuries. Hip fractures are extremely painful, highly disabling, and even fatal.

People who break their hips often require surgery to repair the broken bones, and they may even need hip replacements if their injuries are severe. People with broken hips are at high risk of additional hip fractures because of their lost mobility, impaired balance, and confidence in walking.

Pain

Slips and fall accidents can cause victims to suffer broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons, and nerve damage. Even when these body parts heal, the effects of the injuries can often still be felt for months or even years after the injury.

It’s common for slip-and-fall victims to experience chronic pain that can interfere with their quality of life and even their ability to work. They may feel pain in their lower backs, hips, legs, and even upper bodies if they use their hands and arms to brace themselves as they fall.

Anxiety and Fear

People who have fallen and suffered serious injuries often develop an extreme fear of falling again. Even when their doctors medically clear them to walk unassisted, they may be afraid to walk without using a walker or a cane. This is common in elderly slip and fall victims, but it can happen to fall victims of any age.

This fear can be highly disruptive to victims’ lives and impact every aspect of their daily activities and routines. In addition to being unable to work, they may be unable to live independently or spend time participating in hobbies or with family and friends as they could before their falls.