My back hurts, should I bother getting it checked out?

[the tree]

Last night I was in a car accident and was thrown up and back down into my seat very quickly, as such the bottom of my back really hurt. It doesn't hurt so much now but the pain isn't going away as quickly as I'd like it to.

If it doesn't go away soon should I assume that it'll go away eventually or should I get a doctors opinion?

[YT2095]

Naaah, be a Man, it`s not like it`s Spine Cancer or something, get some beers down your neck

 

hell, it`s not like we need our backs for anything important anyway!

 

the choice is yours....

[ecoli]

it depends, if the accident was your fault, then no. If it was someone else's fault make sure their insurance covers it and then go to the doctor as often as possible for your broken back.

[the tree]

it depends, if the accident was your fault, then no. If it was someone else's fault make sure their insurance covers it and then go to the doctor as often as possible for your broken back.

Well it was my best friend. And I doubt that his insurance would cover stuff that would be covered by the NHS anyway.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

/me installs the Java MRI client for vBulletin

[chem1a]

there is always the possibility that you have done serious damage that requires u only to move the wrong way to sever the cord .... could you be bothered checking up on that ?

[Bluenoise]

It sounds like you should probably goto the doctor. This is roughly what will probably happen.

 

The doctor will likely give you pain killers then send you to a physiotherpist. The physiotherapist will probably give you some light back excercises and stretches to do for a couple mounts and tell you to avoid any heavy lifting or other excercises that could strain your back.

[SkepticLance]

Most bad backs heal themselves. However, it won't do any harm to get it checked if you are worried. Just don't go to a chiropractor. Your back does not need potentially damaging voodoo massage. If you are really worried, find a suitable medical specialist.

 

If there is nothing specifically organic wrong with your back, as shown by your specialist's test results, the best advice is to carry on with normal life, just avoiding any activity that causes pain. When the back pain is gone, begin with gentle back exercises, and slowly build them up till your back is strong.

[husmusen]

Backs are very resilient, if your avatar is any guide you are c. 20y+-5 old, I don't think a single bump is going to do anything.

 

So my good nurse advice is to go have it checked out by a medical professional.

 

My practical advice is give it a week, if it still hurts then worry and go see the doc. One of the niceties of being young is that most damage regenerates fairly well. Just don't hurt it again in the week, and dont lean right out over a table or bed for something in that week.

 

An awful lot of back pain is muscular, so try rubbing some menthol/salicylate cream(you can get it from any pharmacy) into your back. Get someone else to do this rather than bending your back into interesting contortions trying to reach. That stuff works pretty well on muscle pain.

 

NB, if you get pins and needles in your legs, or arms, or an electric shock feeling everytime you move your neck, or bend over or twist your back you go straight to the ED. If the pain suddenly intensifies, you go straight to the ED.

And make sure you tell them you got banged up in a car accident.

 

husmusen

[Neil9327]

Most bad backs heal themselves. However, it won't do any harm to get it checked if you are worried. Just don't go to a chiropractor. Your back does not need potentially damaging voodoo massage. If you are really worried, find a suitable medical specialist.

 

If there is nothing specifically organic wrong with your back, as shown by your specialist's test results, the best advice is to carry on with normal life, just avoiding any activity that causes pain. When the back pain is gone, begin with gentle back exercises, and slowly build them up till your back is strong.

 

Just to provide a bit of balance to the discussion, I have personally found Chiropractors to be very effective. They are not damaging voodoo massage artists.