Human beings are strange gangly creatures. We’re the only animal to stand upright and balance perfectly on two legs. We also have long limbs, with intricate features that allows us to spread out weight and secure ourselves. So although falling down the stairs is sometimes used as a gag in comedy shows, it’s not that funny when it really happens. The injuries that once can receive from falling down the steps can range from minor to fatal. The most common kinds of injuries can be quite painful, so much so that you can no longer make it into work. Even walking or gentle jogging becomes a chore due to the joint pressure pain you are going through. Maybe you stretched out your hands to catch yourself and you fell heavily on your arm. The injuries you sustain from this can be broken bones or severely bruised muscles. Even worse, if you land on your tailbone or head, then you really do need bed rest for your well-being.
Twist and Shout
The most common form of injury when falling down some steps is a twisted ankle. Our reaction is to suddenly losing our footing is to scramble around and try to hit something solid immediately with our feet. This can twist the ball joint and push our weight inward or outward. This creates a contusion, which leads to sometimes tearing muscles and even ligaments. Firstly, use lots of ice to bring the inflammation down and bring new blood to the scene. White blood cells need to flood the area and begin repairing the microfibers quickly. Straighten your ankle and foot and wear an ankle brace. This will stabilize the joint and allow you to slowly recuperate to full strength.
Black and Blue
Landing on your legs, buttocks, arm or ribs can really bruise. This is due to a blunt force trauma of your entire weight landing on just once part of your body. Blood vessels burst causing bleeding underneath the skin. The first thing you should do is warm the area. Unlike bone injuries where ice is used, muscle bruising requires heat that will allow the blood cells to circulate and not blotch. You can use a heat pack and wrap it around the affected area with a bandage. Wear more layers when you are going out to keep the wind chill away which causes great discomfort. Don’t put direct pressure on the area either, so if you have a bruise on one side of your body sleep on the opposite side.
Emotional Recovery
Falling can sometimes be a near death experience, especially if you fell down multiple steps. Taking time off work also hurts your financial situation. Make sure that you at least don’t have to worry about paying for your medical bills if it was not your fault. Contact a good injury claim lawyer that build a case against an employer or other party. They can take into account the emotional damage done by a life changing injury.
Falling down steps is quite a sudden and painful experience. Losing your footing your whole body weight can act against you. Take your time and use both cold and heat to your advantage.
This post was a collaboration.
Thank you for reading!
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