Back Injuries and Proper Medical Care

You have just tweaked your back on the way to work. You misjudged how slipper it was in the driveway, and you slipped and fell. What do you do now? Do you tough it out and make it through the work day? Do you call into work and hope your primary physician can see you on such a short notice? Do you drive to your local hospital emergency room? Back pains and injuries are some of the most common reasons for physician visits. It is important to know your medical care options and to evaluate your medical condition accurately.

Amount of pain How much pain are you in? Has the pain alleviated at all since you made it back inside? Have you taken anything for your pain and has it helped at all? These are all important factors to evaluate when deciding which medical care option is best for you. If you felt a minor tweak that was much better after a couple of anti inflammatories, you can probably make a future appointment with your physician to be checked out. If you are in much more pain and nothing is helping, you will want to consider an emergency room or urgent care setting.

Location of pain When dealing with back pain, the specific location of the pain matters. If you feel that your spine was affected, it may be wise to not move and to call an ambulance. Always identify the specific location of your pain and be able to translate this to your doctor. Even a walk in clinic near me will want to know exactly where you are experiencing the pain. You can do a quick search for walk in clinic near me to find medical care that will look at your back injury.

Any other medical conditions If you have other serious medical conditions, even a minor back injury may need to be checked out. For example, if you have osteoporosis or a previous back surgery, you will need diagnostic imaging immediately. Minimally, you will want to ask the doctors to take a look at your back condition. You can generally find diagnostic imaging services at the emergency room or an after hours urgent care setting. Simply ask for recommendations of walk in clinic near me. The sooner that the back pain injury is taken care of, the sooner you can return to your normal daily routines. With at least 40% of people suffering from long term low back pain not seeing a doctor of physical therapist, it is important to see one as soon as possible, especially for repeat back injuries.

Do not return to normal schedule without doctor clearance About 4 in 10 people try to exercise to relieve lower back pain. Although exercise can be beneficial in strengthening the muscles in the back to prevent back injuries, it is not an ideal treatment plan. If you visit a walk in clinic near me, you are likely to be given doctor?s orders to rest, at least until the pain subsides. Exercising or exerting too much energy can actually make the injury worse, and can make it take longer to heal.

Monitor pain following the injury Back pains are tricky. They may seem to be cured, only to have extreme pains months or years later. Monitor the area of your back that you injured. Up to 69% of Americans say that low back pain affects their day to day lives. Chronic back pain conditions can get very expensive and can prevent you from working regular jobs. It can also require multiple physician visits per year. Continue monitoring your pains to prevent chronic pain conditions from forming.

Back pains are the most common reason for missed work and school in the United States. If you experience a back injury, you will need to carefully evaluate your pain condition to decide on appropriate treatment. You may want to wait for an appointment with your primary physician. You also might want to visit a walk in clinic near me, or go to the local emergency room at your closest hospital. Ensure that you keep up on your medical care for the best treatment.