Knowing when to see a doctor after experiencing back pain can significantly impact your recovery and, in some cases, your legal rights.
Back pain resulting from accidents and repetitive trauma is a common health issue Kentucky residents face. While some back pain can be minor and go away with rest, severe back pain may require medical intervention, including surgery, prescription medication, and physical therapy.
If you’re suffering from back pain caused by an accident or your work, contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer for a free consultation with a skilled back pain lawyer. We’ll help you identify the cause of your back pain, explain your options for seeking compensation, and discuss the next steps to take.
Signs You Need Medical Attention for Your Back Pain
Are you wondering whether you need to see a doctor about your back pain? Here are some indications that it might be time to seek medical advice about your back pain:
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Your Back Pain Results from a Traumatic Injury
If your back pain began after a car accident, a slip and fall, a workplace accident, or any other type of traumatic injury, it is essential to see a doctor right away. Not all serious back conditions cause immediate stabbing pain or even a dull ache at first. Even if the pain symptoms seem minor initially, injuries like herniated discs, spinal fractures, and muscle tears can worsen over time. A medical professional can perform imaging tests to determine the type of injury you are experiencing and begin an appropriate back pain treatment plan.
For personal injury cases, seeking timely treatment from a healthcare professional is crucial. The earlier you have a diagnosis and begin treatment, the stronger your case could be.
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The Pain Persists for Longer Than a Week
If the pain in your back does not improve or go away within a few days, it could be a sign that your condition is more serious than you initially thought. Persistent pain can result from conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spinal misalignment, or a muscle strain that requires physical therapy to heal properly. Delaying treatment and pain relief can extend your recovery period or lead to chronic pain and permanent damage.
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You Experience Numbness, Tingling, or Weakness
If numbness, tingling sensations, or muscle weakness in your arms and legs accompany your back pain, it could be a sign of nerve damage. Conditions like sciatica or spinal stenosis put pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord, resulting in pain and neurological symptoms. If left untreated, the nerve damage could become permanent.
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The Pain Spreads to Other Parts of Your Body
Pain that begins in your back and spreads to your legs, shoulders, or neck may indicate a more complex injury. Radiating pain can be a symptom of slipped discs, spinal cord compression, or other serious issues that require medical evaluation and may need surgery to correct. It is important to seek treatment for this pain before it begins to severely impact your work and daily life.
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The Pain Worsens Over Time
While some back pain improves with rest, worsening symptoms may be a sign that the cause of your pain is more serious. Worsening back pain can make it challenging to function throughout the day and affect your sleep. When pain increases rather than decreases over time, it is time to see a doctor for treatment.
Types of Injuries That Could Cause Back Aches
Various types of injuries can cause back pain, particularly after a traumatic accident or physical strain. Some of the common injuries resulting in back pain include:
- Herniated or bulging discs
- Muscle or ligament strains
- Spinal fractures
- Nerve compression injuries
- Nerve damage, including sciatica
- Nerve irritation
- Muscle spasms
- Soft tissue inflammation
- Cauda equina syndrome, a condition causing shooting pain, numbness, and loss of bowel and bladder control
- Whiplash affecting the upper back and shoulders
Such injuries frequently result from single events, like car crashes and falls. However, repetitive motions can also cause back injuries, such as if you must repeatedly twist or lift as part of your job. Regardless of how your back injury happened, it is vital to seek medical care so your doctor can identify the extent of the injury and you can explore your treatment options.
How Can Back Pain Impact You?
Back pain does not affect only your body. It can impact nearly every part of your life. Individuals experiencing chronic or untreated back injuries may have trouble completing simple tasks like lifting, standing, walking, or sitting for extended periods. They may also have difficulty concentrating due to the pain, and pain can make it harder to fall and stay asleep.
The pain can prevent you from playing with your children or grandchildren, participating in activities you enjoy, and being productive at work. And it’s not only those with physically demanding jobs, such as those in construction, manufacturing, or healthcare, whose work suffers from back pain. It can also impact office workers, retail workers, and others in positions with fewer physical demands.
What If I Hurt My Back at Work?
In Kentucky, most employees are covered by workers’ compensation. If you suffer an injury on the job, you can seek medical expense coverage and partial wage-replacement benefits regardless of who was at fault for the accident. If someone other than your employer was responsible, you could be entitled to pursue a third-party personal injury claim that could provide additional compensation.
If your injury occurred at work, it is critical to take a few key steps to protect your right to seek compensation:
- Consult our back injury attorneys to handle the process for you and represent you in settlement negotiations and at hearings or in court, if necessary.
- Seek medical attention for your injuries and follow up with treatment until you fully recover. Seek emergency care if you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency.
- Report the injury to your employer or supervisor as soon as possible.
- File a workers’ compensation claim using the paperwork provided by your employer.
- Track your treatment progress and hold on to medical bills, other receipts, and records related to your injury.
Talk to Our Kentucky Back Injury Attorneys Now
If you’re experiencing severe pain in your back following an accident in Kentucky, contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer for a free consultation with an experienced back injury lawyer. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and handle injury claims from all angles, including personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation claims, and Social Security disability claims.
When you work with our law firm, the injury lawyers you see in our TV commercials are the same attorneys you will work with. We’re real lawyers who advertise, not advertisers who happen to have law degrees.
