Back bruise: symptoms, treatment of lower back pain after a fall at home

One of the most common consequences after a fall is a spinal bruise. It involves damage to soft tissues, without disturbing their anatomical structure, possibly spraining muscles or ligaments, while internal organs are practically not affected, only in a fall from a height or in an accident. Never underestimate the seriousness of a back injury, so after a fall it is recommended to consult a traumatologist to rule out damage to the vertebrae, nerve endings or spinal cord.

Signs of Spinal Damage

A back bruise can be caused by any mechanical impact, not only from a fall, but also from an accident, a blow with a blunt object, or a collision with water or transport. Damage to the spine is dangerous to human health, as it can lead to irreversible consequences.

Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor:

Severe throbbing pain in the area of impact or mechanical impact.
Brief pain felt locally, which intensifies within 24 hours.
Increased discomfort when trying to bend and straighten, or perform a tilt.
The appearance of puffiness and swelling in the damaged area.
Formation of hematoma or hemorrhages in soft tissues.

If the thoracic spine is damaged, the patient also experiences shortness of breath, pain in the heart area, and tension in the shoulder blades. Patients may also complain of poor coordination, problems with breathing, and functioning of the upper extremities. Contusion of the lumbosacral region provokes dysfunction of the genitourinary system, loss of sensation in the lower extremities, loss of reflexes, and decreased erection.

Symptoms of soft tissue and spinal bruises

Since there is little soft tissue in the back, when a bruise occurs, the skeletal system, namely the spine, takes on most of the injuries . The severity of the injury depends on which part of the spine is injured. A back injury is characterized by soft tissue injury or damage to the bone tissue of the spinal column.

The spine is most often affected by back injuries.

Symptoms of a bruise characterize injury to a specific part of the spinal column:

cervical injury . In the absence of damage to the spinal cord, a contusion of the cervical spine is classified as a mild injury. The main symptoms of cervical injuries are: neck pain (acute), swelling of the injury site, redness of the skin;
thoracic injury . Since the spine in the thoracic region is fixed by the rib frame, this section of the spinal column is less mobile; most often, when this section is bruised, soft tissues are affected, but the vertebrae are not damaged. Symptoms of a thoracic contusion are: acute pain over the entire back, which tends to weaken, difficulty breathing, possible coughing, increased pain with deep breathing or coughing, swelling at the site of injury, darkening of soft tissues, limited mobility due to pain, pain when touching the site of injury;
lumbar injury . A lumbar bruise is characterized by soft tissue injury. When there are chronic spinal injuries, the pain after the injury increases. Symptoms of a lumbar bruise are: acute pain in the lower part of the body, swelling, the appearance of a hematoma in the area of \u200b\u200bthe bruise, increased pain when turning, bending, disruption of the functioning of the muscular frame of the back in the area of injury.

In a fall, spinal injury can be combined with damage to the lumbosacral region and bone tissue of the pelvic region. In some cases, the blow falls on the internal organs (kidneys, lungs).

Video: “Symptoms of spinal injury”

Development mechanism and possible consequences

Regardless of whether the patient received a contusion of the lumbar spine or neck, the injury is classified according to the severity of the injury. There are several degrees:

Easy. The most favorable outcome after a fall, since internal organs and the spinal cord are not affected, the patient can be treated on an outpatient basis. Full recovery occurs within a month.
Average. It is characterized by complete disruption of zonal conduction of the spinal cord. Complex treatment is required, recovery occurs within 3-4 months after injury. Some patients may experience neurological damage, such as partial paresis.
Heavy. It develops only if the blow was strong, or the fall was from a great height. A characteristic feature is considered to be a violation of the conductivity of the spine, the appearance of neurological lesions that cannot be treated. Rehabilitation is long and requires an integrated approach, but full recovery may not occur.

A spinal bruise appears immediately after a fall; the patient experiences loss of reflexes, loss of sensitivity at the site of impact, and possible paralysis or spinal shock. If the impact was in the lumbar region, problems with the functioning of the pelvic organs (defecation, urination) may occur. The body reports the injury with severe pain, and a hematoma appears at the site of impact.

Regardless of the severity of the injury, it is recommended to undergo an X-ray examination to identify damaged vertebrae, their displacement, compression fracture and possible problems with the nerve roots and spinal cord. If the pain does not go away within 24 hours or only gets worse, additional consultation with a specialist is required.

Causes

The cause of a vertebral compression fracture is often a jump from a height onto straight legs or a fall on the buttocks. Typically, falls damage one or more vertebrae in isolation, that is, without associated injuries or illnesses.

But injury can also occur in a car accident, at work, or during a natural disaster. Then, in addition to a vertebral fracture, a traumatic brain injury, bone fracture, blunt trauma to the abdomen, damage to the chest and bladder can be diagnosed.

When a patient has any pathologies of the spine, a compression fracture can be obtained with minimal impact, for example, by sharply bending forward. This is due to the fact that the bone tissue becomes thinner and becomes brittle. Osteoporosis is the most common cause of pathological fractures. Another cause is hemangiomas and metastases of malignant tumors in bone tissue.

Multiple fractures significantly reduce the height of the anterior segments of the spine, which is why a hump is formed and senile kyphosis develops.

First aid for bruise

If you fall on your back from a height or as a result of slipping on ice, you must immediately call an ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, you will need to take the following measures:

Lumbar spine fracture

Immobilize the patient and prevent his movement if disturbances of consciousness are observed.
Place the person on a flat, hard surface.
Apply ice to the damaged area.
Place a towel or a small cushion with a diameter of up to 5 cm under the lower back. This is required to reduce unwanted stress on the spine and ensure its natural position.
In case of persistent pain, it is recommended to give an available painkiller. For example, “Analgin”, “Ketanov”, “Nurofen”, this will prevent shock from developing.

What can't you do? It is strictly forbidden to heat the damaged area, insulate it in any way, apply warming ointments, tilt the patient, turn it over, or carry out other manipulations (attempts to correct the dislocation) until the medical team arrives. This will only aggravate the situation and lead to a worsening of the condition.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is confirmed by radiographic examination in addition to MRI and CT and in rare cases requires surgical intervention.

X-ray in two projections shows how reduced the height of the damaged vertebra and its deformation are.

MRI and CT scans of the spine are needed to assess the condition of the spinal cord membranes, ligaments and cartilage surrounding the spine. If there are neurological disorders, the patient is prescribed a consultation with a neurosurgeon or neurologist.

A more accurate assessment of damage is obtained using myelography.

Radionuclide testing is used for pathological fractures that result from a tumor or metastasis.

Densitometry and serum protein electrophoresis are prescribed if osteoporosis is suspected. For young patients with this diagnosis, an appointment with an endocrinologist is additionally scheduled to rule out hyperparathyroidism.

First aid for vertebral compression fracture

The victim should be laid on his back, on a hard and flat surface and immediately seek medical help - taken to the department or call an ambulance.
Fracture in the cervical spine: fix the neck by rolling up a hard roller, making a bag of sand, or using a Shants collar.
Fracture in the thoracic and lumbar region: place a cushion under the damaged area.
Fracture of the coccyx: turn the victim onto his stomach, place a soft pillow or cushion under the chest to relieve pressure on the damaged part.
In all cases, immediate medical attention is required.

Diagnosis

A soft tissue bruise can be diagnosed by examining and interviewing the patient and studying the circumstances of the injury. In the process of visual examination of the damaged area, the presence of a hematoma is established, palpation is carried out, and the severity of reflexes and the performance of the limbs are checked. To rule out more serious injuries, it is recommended to undergo the following types of examination:

X-ray.
CT scan of the back.
MRI of the back.

If a child has suffered a bruise, an additional examination by a general surgeon will be required; an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity will also be prescribed if the blow occurred in the area of the shoulder blades or below. Additionally, general urine and blood tests are required to determine the presence of inflammation. Only after a diagnosis is made, comprehensive treatment is prescribed.

The main symptom of a back injury is bruising and pain in the injured area.

Treatment

The diagnosis of “spinal contusion” allows complex therapy to be carried out on an outpatient basis, provided there are no neurological disorders in the patient. If there is loss of sensitivity, paralysis of the limbs, difficulty in performing simple actions or complete loss of ability to work, the patient is admitted to a hospital.

During the treatment period, even if it is carried out at home, the patient must strictly adhere to bed rest. Additionally, you will need to replace the regular mattress with an orthopedic one or otherwise ensure that the bed is sufficiently rigid. Limit physical activity as much as possible; only complete rest will allow you to recover faster. Therapy is always complex and includes medication and physiotherapeutic procedures.

Taking medications

A bruise is always accompanied by acute pain, so the doctor prescribes medications that will help relieve it. Treatment with medications is always symptomatic and is aimed at improving the patient’s general condition, suppressing the inflammatory process, and accelerating regeneration. The following groups of drugs are prescribed:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nimesil, Diclofenac, Dynastat). The drugs effectively stop the inflammatory process or prevent its occurrence, relieve pain in the damaged area, and improve the general condition of the patient.
Diuretics (Furosemide, Lasix). Prescribed only when indicated, for example, severe swelling. In this case, they help the body more effectively get rid of excess water and eliminate pressure on the nerve roots.
Hormonal drugs (Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone). Prescribed to quickly eliminate the inflammatory process, reduce swelling, and improve the condition.
Muscle relaxants (Mydocalm, Sirdalud, Baclofen). Drugs are prescribed for stiffness and the presence of clamps, severe swelling and severe ischemia of muscle tissue. With their help, the muscle fiber is smoothed out, and relief comes.
B vitamins (“Milgamma”, “Neurobion”, “Neurorubin”). They help improve metabolism, help restore normal blood flow in the damaged area, and start the regeneration process.

During the acute period, it is strictly forbidden to rub the bruised area, apply a heating pad or hot compress. In the first hours after injury, such actions can provoke inflammation and increase pain. It is recommended to lubricate the damaged area with preparations containing an anti-inflammatory component, for example, heparin ointment, Troxevasin, Lyoton.

Physiotherapy

Therapeutic exercises are one of the effective ways to treat back bruises. With its help, blood flow is restored at the site of the bruise, and muscle atrophy along the ridge is eliminated. The exercises are always simple and have a general strengthening nature, aimed at all muscle groups. This can be flexion and extension of the knees and arms. Some approaches are performed lying on the floor, others standing. Particular attention is always paid to attention, sudden movements, bending, jumping or active sports are excluded.

A complex of exercise therapy is always selected individually, since it is important to work not only the damaged area, but also the neighboring ones, and strengthen the muscular frame of the spine as a whole. Today there are a large number of techniques developed by doctors and tested around the world. Each of them is aimed at effective recovery from injuries and has its pros and cons.

Massage

After eliminating the acute pain syndrome, on the third day after the injury, the doctor prescribes a visit to the massage therapist. Such an effect on the damaged area is permissible if there is no inflammatory process, open damage to soft tissue or suppuration of the hematoma. Stroking and kneading will eliminate congestion at the site of the bruise, restore blood flow and natural microcirculation of nutrients.

The massage does not involve prolonged or intense exposure, squeezing or active movements are excluded, everything is done smoothly and softly. In general, the wizard’s work time does not exceed 20 minutes. On average, the course includes up to 10 sessions.

In case of a back injury, an x-ray is prescribed to rule out a fracture or cracks.

Surgical intervention

Spinal contusion is rarely treated with surgery, as conservative therapy gives excellent results. But if the condition is advanced, there are hematomas with suppuration, there are complex fractures or spinal deformity, surgery is prescribed. It is aimed at restoring natural blood supply and normal functioning of the damaged area. The method is selected individually, based on the general condition of the patient and the exact diagnosis.

Possible complications

In general, soft tissue injuries can be treated well with modern medications, so bruises rarely lead to serious consequences. But ignoring acute pain and failing to see a doctor in a timely manner can lead to the following negative consequences:

Limitation of physical activity.
Loss of sensation in the area of injury.
Injury to internal organs.
Retroperitoneal hematoma, and bleeding into the retroperitoneal space.
Kidney dysfunction due to injury in the lumbar region.

To prevent complications, you need to consult a doctor immediately after receiving the injury or if the area that was hit hurts for more than two days. This will allow the dangerous condition to be diagnosed in time and the patient to receive the necessary medical care.

A spinal bruise is one of the minor injuries that the musculoskeletal system receives throughout life. Not a single modern person is immune from it, since it is easy to get a mechanical impact in the back area when falling in the winter, when riding a bicycle, or in a traffic accident. The victim requires first aid, after which it is recommended to consult a doctor to receive recommendations for comprehensive treatment.