Back injuries are common. They can happen to anyone at any age. They also occur for numerous different reasons, including accidents, overexertion, or slips and falls. However, back injuries can have long-lasting effects. This leaves people wondering, can a back injury affect you later in life? The truth is back injuries can significantly alter one’s quality of life even years after the incident.
Immediate Effects of Back Injuries
When a back injury occurs, the immediate effects can range in severity from mild discomfort to intense pain and even immobility. The back is composed of the spine, muscles, and ligaments, making it a complex structure. It is connected to many other parts of the body, so any injury can disrupt the body’s function. Common immediate symptoms include:
- Sharp back pain
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Diminished mobility
Medical treatment often focuses on alleviating pain and improving mobility through medications, physical therapy, or sometimes surgery.
How a Back Injury Can Affect You Later in Life
While many people recover fully from a back injury, others can experience lingering issues that can persist over time, affecting them later in life. Some of these effects include:
- Chronic pain. One of the most common long-term effects of a back injury is chronic pain. Chronic back pain can come from nerve damage or inflammation.
- Quality of life. When one suffers an injury, especially when they experience persistent pain, it can affect daily activities and overall quality of life.
- Mobility issues. Long-term back problems can limit an individual’s ability to move as freely as before. This can affect their ability to work, exercise, and perform daily tasks. This can also lead to weight gain and other health issues.
- Financial damages. Financial burdens happen as a result of injuries. With injuries often comes increased medical care, which can cause hefty additional expenses.
- Psychological damages. Living with chronic pain and limited mobility can take a toll on a person’s mental health. Depression, anxiety, and stress are common in those who suffer injuries, particularly back injuries.
- Impact on employment. For many, a back injury can lead to difficulties in maintaining employment, especially jobs that require mobility. Jobs that require physical labor may be nearly impossible to complete, and even sedentary jobs can be challenging due to pain and the need for frequent breaks, especially jobs that require a person to sit at a desk all day.
Preventing Long-Term Issues
All back injuries can’t be prevented, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of long-term issues. Some of these include:
- Follow medical advice. Follow the treatment plan given to you by your healthcare provider to ensure proper healing and rehabilitation. This can prevent long-term issues from arising.
- Remain active. Engaging in low-impact exercises to strengthen your back can help improve flexibility. Be sure not to over-strain, as that can have a negative effect and further strain back injuries.
- Have a healthy weight. Obesity can put a strain on your back. Maintaining a healthy weight can help avoid the risk of injury.
- Cultivate a conducive work environment. Ensure your work environment supports good posture to minimize strain on your back. Ergonomic chairs can be helpful.
When Do You Need Legal Assistance
Some back injuries are unavoidable. However, other injuries can occur due to someone else’s negligence—such as in a car accident, slip and fall, or workplace incident. In these cases, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages incurred due to the accident. When this happens, consulting a back injury lawyer who focuses on these types of cases is crucial in receiving the compensation you deserve. Some damages you can recover include:
- Medical expenses. Compensation for medical expenses includes surgery, medications, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and any other ongoing treatment needed for your injury.
- Lost wages. If your back injury affects your ability to work, you may be able to claim lost wages. This includes lost income as a result of immediately having to take off work. It also includes any lost future wages if the injury impacts your ability to work long-term.
- Pain and suffering. Chronic pain and the psychological and emotional impact of a back injury can also be grounds for compensation. This is considered non-economic damage and can be more difficult to quantify than other damages that come with a price tag, but if the pain and suffering are significant enough, it may be able to be recovered for damages.
FAQs
Q: Can Back Pain Ruin Your Quality of Life?
A: Back pain can ruin a person’s quality of life, but it does not have to do so. Back pain can negatively affect a person’s life by causing reduced physical activity, trouble sleeping, causing limitations at work, and even isolation in social events. It can also affect a person’s everyday tasks, such as moving, lifting, and bending.
Q: Are Back Injuries Permanent?
A: All back injuries are not permanent. Generally speaking, if an injury is more severe, there is a greater chance of the injury being permanent. Some injuries that can be permanent include spinal cord injuries, which can lead to paralysis or loss of physical function; disc herniations, which can lead to surgery and long-term pain; and fractures, which can lead to permanent physical changes.
Q: Can a Back Injury Get Worse Over Time?
A: A back injury can get worse over time. Some of the primary reasons for back injuries getting worse include lack of adequate medical care for the injury, unhealthy lifestyle, and pre-existing medical conditions, such as arthritis. A reinjury can also worsen already existing back issues. Correct management, physical therapy, and sufficient medical treatment can help reduce the risk of an injury getting worse over time.
Q: Can an Old Back Injury Cause Problems Years Later?
A: An old back injury can potentially cause problems later if the injury is not properly diagnosed or managed, even if the initial injury has begun to heal. This can cause problems later by causing chronic pain, diminished mobility, pain in other parts of the body, and susceptibility to reinjury.
Contact English Lloyd & Armenta Today
If you have suffered a back injury, especially due to the negligence of someone else, English Lloyd & Armenta can help. Contact us today for more information.