You can sustain an endless possibility of injuries from falling down the stairs. Minor injuries that can result include sprains, strains, bruises, and minor cuts and scrapes. More serious injuries, like broken bones, spinal injuries, deep lacerations and concussions, can also occur from a stair fall.
What injuries can you get from falling down stairs?
What Are the Most Common Injuries of Down Stairs Falls?
- Lower extremity injuries, such as organ damage or dislocations.
- Internal bleeding.
- Broken bones, oftentimes ankles or wrists (when an individual tries to break their fall)
- Injuries to the back/spine or neck.
- TBIs or traumatic brain injuries, including concussions.
Can falling down the stairs paralyze you?
A complete injury of the spinal cord means that the spinal cord has been severed, and this results in paralysis from the point of the injury downward.
Can falling down stairs cause brain damage?
Falling down the stairs is a common cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other full-body injuries. Although falls down the stairs is a significant cause of injury across all age groups, research suggests that young intoxicated people and elderly people are at the highest risk.
What to watch for after falling down stairs?
Falling down the stairs can cause a concussion if you hit your head. Symptoms of a concussion may include headaches, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, drowsiness, blurry vision, or confusion. If you experience any of these symptoms after falling down the stairs, seek medical attention.
When should I see a doctor after falling down stairs?
When to see a doctor
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Consistent pain, swelling, bruising, clicking, fever, or a limited range of motion are all signs of an injury that requires medical treatment. Bone and muscle bruises also need medical attention. If your pain doesn’t go away within a few weeks, you should see a doctor.
What does falling down the stairs mean?
to fall down the stairs: to tumble or drop from the top of the steps to the bottom.
When you fall on your buttocks?
A slip and fall onto your buttocks can result in a coccyx (tailbone) injury. If you see your physician about your pain, you could be diagnosed with coccygodynia, which is pain at the coccyx. The coccyx is located at the very tip of your spine between your buttocks.
Why do older people fall down stairs?
The multifactorial nature of falls
The most common causes of fall-related injuries in older adults are trips, slips and stumbles (57%, from 2001–3 US data), with 27% being attributable to loss of balance, dizziness, fainting or a seizure.
What are the symptoms of a slow brain bleed?
As more blood fills your brain or the narrow space between your brain and skull, other signs and symptoms may become apparent, such as: Lethargy. Seizures. Unconsciousness.
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When to see a doctor
- Lose consciousness.
- Have a persistent headache.
- Experience vomiting, weakness, blurred vision, unsteadiness.
What are the signs of brain damage?
Physical symptoms of brain damage include:
- Persistent headaches.
- Extreme mental fatigue.
- Extreme physical fatigue.
- Paralysis.
- Weakness.
- Tremors.
- Seizures.
- Sensitivity to light.
What are the 4 types of traumatic brain injuries?
Following are common types of traumatic brain injury:
- Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injury. …
- Brain Contusion. …
- Second Impact Syndrome. …
- Shaken Baby Syndrome. …
- Penetrating Injury.
How do you know if you have damaged your back?
Signs you may have injured your back include:
- pain or tenderness (sore to touch)
- pain that worsens with movement, coughing, sneezing or laughing.
- stiffness or difficulty moving.
- difficulty standing up straight.
- muscles in spasm on either side of the spine.
- bruising.
- swelling.
- pain that radiates down one or both legs.
Why does your whole body hurt after a fall?
Bruised muscles are typically caused by trauma or blunt force to a body part. This trauma crushes the muscle fibers, but doesn’t break the skin tissue. In many cases, a bruised muscle is seen as a mild injury. In more severe cases, they can lead to serious tissue damage and complications.
How long should you be sore after a fall?
Muscle soreness should not last longer than five days. Seek medical attention if the pain doesn’t subside after a week, the injured area feels numb, or you are unable to walk or move your arms or legs.
What should you check after a fall?
After the Fall
- Check the patient’s breathing, pulse, and blood pressure. …
- Check for injury, such as cuts, scrapes, bruises, and broken bones.
- If you were not there when the patient fell, ask the patient or someone who saw the fall what happened.
What is falling a symptom of?
A fall might be the first sign of a new or worsening health condition. New, and often temporary, health conditions that can cause falls include: constipation. infection — including a bladder, urinary tract or chest infection.
What happens to your body after a fall?
Falls can cause broken bones, like wrist, arm, ankle, and hip fractures. Falls can cause head injuries. These can be very serious, especially if the person is taking certain medicines (like blood thinners).
Does falling down stairs mean suicide?
From doing research and knowing enough about Japanese culture “falling down stairs,” was not used to mean suicide. … But, they are nothing like the stairs you see in two-story homes. False information creates false discourse.
What does falling mean spiritually?
Fall is the end of many things but it can also represent the beginning, take a cue from the spiritual and use this season to help you find the balance you need. … While the passing of time and the death of a loved one will cause sadness and mourning, Fall reminds us that death doesn’t always have to leave us sad.
What is the male equivalent of falling down stairs?
What’s the male equivalent to falling down stairs? Gliding up the balcony.
What can happen if you land on your butt too hard?
Bruises, also called contusions, on the butt aren’t that uncommon. This type of usually minor injury happens when an object or another person makes forceful contact with the surface of your skin and injures muscle, tiny blood vessels called capillaries, and other connective tissues below the skin.
What happens when you fall and hit your back?
An injury to the ligaments or muscles in the back, such as a sprain or a strain. A fracture or dislocation of the spine. This can cause a spinal cord injury that may lead to permanent paralysis. It is important to immobilize and transport the injured person correctly to reduce the risk of permanent paralysis.
Why does the middle of my bum hurt?
Causes of pain in the buttocks range from temporary annoyances, such as bursitis, bruising, piriformis syndrome, muscle strain, and shingles, to more serious diseases with long-term consequences, such as cancer, arthritis of the sacroiliac joints, and herniated disc with sciatica.
What are the 3 types of falls?
Falls can be classified into three types:
- Physiological (anticipated). Most in-hospital falls belong to this category. …
- Physiological (unanticipated). …
- Accidental.
What disease causes you to fall?
The following are some examples of illnesses or conditions that increase the risk of falling:
- Older age. …
- Arthritis.
- Chronic pain.
- Diabetes.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Anemia or other blood disorders.
- Thyroid problems.
- Foot disorders.
What is Post fall syndrome?
Post-fall syndrome (PFS) is a severe complication of falls in older adults. PFS is considered to be a medical emergency in geriatric patients, given the risk of a decompensatory “domino effect” and mortality. Unfortunately, there is currently no consensus on how to detect patients at risk of PFS.
What are the first signs of internal bleeding?
Signs and symptoms of internal bleeding
- weakness, usually on one side of your body.
- numbness, usually on one side of your body.
- tingling, especially in hands and feet.
- severe, sudden headache.
- difficulty swallowing or chewing.
- change in vision or hearing.
- loss of balance, coordination, and eye focus.
Can you have a brain bleed and not know it?
There may be no warning signs of a bleed on the brain. For example, it could happen after someone falls and hits their head. If there is a weakness in the blood vessel wall, it can bulge or swell, which is known as an aneurysm. Aneurysms can rupture suddenly without warning, and cause a bleed on the brain.
What does a brain bleed headache feel like?
Brain bleed symptoms may include: Sudden or severe headache. Weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs (often on one side)
How do I know if I have had a brain tumor?
Severe, persistent headaches that may not be related to an existing illness such as migraine is considered a common finding in patients with a brain tumor. Pain may be worse in the mornings and may be associated with nausea or vomiting.
What is fuzzy brain?
Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer.
Does the brain repair itself?
Fortunately, the brain is incredibly resilient and possesses the ability to repair itself after a traumatic injury. This ability is known as neuroplasticity, and it’s the reason that many brain injury survivors can make astounding recoveries. However, neuroplasticity does not activate itself automatically.
Do brain injuries heal?
The brain does not fully mend itself the way a cut or other injury does in the body. Recovery and return to function following brain damage depends on the cause of the injury and the person’s symptoms. This article will examine common types, causes, symptoms, and treatments for brain injury.
How do you test for brain damage?
A medical exam is the first step to diagnose a potential brain injury. Assessment usually includes a neurological exam. This exam evaluates thinking, motor function (movement), sensory function, coordination, eye movement, and reflexes. Imaging tests, including CT scans and MRI scans, cannot detect all TBIs.
What is a level 3 brain injury?
3. Penetrating Brain Injuries. Penetrating brain injuries occur when some type of object pierces through the skull. This may cause the object, or hair, skin, or fragments of the skull, to make contact with the brain.
How do I know if my back pain is serious?
8 Signs That it’s Time to Call a Doctor for Your Back Pain
- You’ve Been in Pain for Over a Week. …
- Your Pain Extends to Other Body Parts. …
- You Have Numbness, Tingling or Weakness. …
- You Have Pain After an Accident. …
- Your Pain is Worse at Certain Times or in Certain Positions. …
- You’re Having Problems with Your Bowels or Urination.
When should I worry about back pain after a fall?
You should see a doctor: After you get hurt, like in a fall or accident. When the pain gets in the way of your daily activities. If it lasts longer than 6 weeks, or spreads.
How do I know if my back pain is muscle or spine?
Back Pain Symptom Checker:
Typically, pain originating in your spine will look a little different than pain from a muscle. You may have a more burning or electric type pain, or your pain may be constant. With spinal-issue pain, you may also have pain that “shoots” down your leg or into your glutes.