How do you know if you broke your back?

We’ve all done something stupid before. Maybe it was attempting to change a light bulb without a ladder, or trying to slide down the stairs on your stomach like you’re surfing some magical wave – that one always ends well.

But sometimes our idiocy can have serious consequences. Like breaking our backs. So how do we know when we’ve taken things too far? Let’s dive into the signs and symptoms of a broken back.

What is a broken back?

Before we get started, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page here. A broken back refers to an injury in which one or more vertebrae in your spine fracture, collapse or disintegrate; often as a result of high-impact trauma such as falls from significant heights or automobile accidents.

It goes without saying that such injuries are incredibly painful and debilitating, hence why early detection and treatment are vital for full recovery.

So how does one even begin to determine whether they might have cracked their own backbone accidentally? Here are some common markers:

Pain areas

The human spinal cord comprises three tiers: cervical (neck), thoracic (middle) and lumbar (lower). Consequently, pain due to vertebral fractures can manifest itself differently depending on where exactly in the spine the harm occurred.

Some areas of potential discomfort include:
– Cervical region
– Back gets tingled.
– Burning sensation present.
– Thoracic region
– Spine feels tender when touched.
– Pain radiates around torso area.
– Lumbar region
– Sharp twinges up lower leg/spine when bending over / lifting objects.

Remember folks – severe pain is not normal! If any parts of your body suddenly feel like they’re on fire with no apparent cause – seek medical attention immediately!

Bad posture

Even though sitting upright properly for long periods of time is more comfortable now than ever, it’s still hard to maintain correct posture all day every day. The truth is that most of us slump or hunch a bit while we work. And though this may not seem like a problem initially; it can lead to back issues over time.

So how do you know if your bad posture has morphed into something much more serious? Well, did you end up in the emergency room after tripping when going down an escalator? If so…we have some unrelated advice: take the stairs next time.

Bad jokes aside –if poor standing / sitting arrangements are being compounded by constant pain in your spine region; then something may be up.

Numbness and Tingling

Okay, let’s get weird with it. Has anyone else ever played the ‘how long can I sleep on my arm before I become completely paralyzed’ game? The answer usually seems like about 8 minutes, give or take. But imagine if that feeling never went away—particularly around your spinal cord area?

While ‘never losing circulation again’ might sound cool in theory (think extra powerful grip strength!), alas—it’s actually one of several symptoms associated with spinal fractures towards sections such as cervical vertebrae, where patients start experiencing tingling or numbness sensations throughout their necks, arms and hands too!

Don’t gamble here guys, numb fingers all cease to exist once they decide to chill out – but this kind of spinal debilitation doesn’t disappear automatically!

Loss of bladder/bowel control

Nobody said discussing back-breaking injuries would be pleasant- sorry folks! So far from tingles ‘n’ pins & needles – things get a whole lot scarier at this point…

If someone receives severe damage on their lower lumbar section-the parts responsible for bowel/bladder-management-this could impact negatively its ability to function properly. Meaning loss of control is a common occurrence in these cases, please seek medical assistance as soon as possible!

If there is any chance that you may have weakened bladder functions – however embarrassing it might seem to tell a healthcare worker! Creating a professional medical relationship and being able to treat the injury head-on are some of the most critical steps

Difficulty Breathing

The spine isn’t just connected with directing sensations throughout your body; It’s also part of our motor control center. Think of it like an intricate highway map. The spinal cord sends messages from outer areas up through the brainstem and onto muscles all around our whole system.

In terms of thoracic vertebrae-broken backs here mostly relate to trouble breathing properly/together correctly during activity because rib-boundaries (where our lungs live) link by linking into sections attached directly into vertebral systems. If this sounds super pleasant to you – well, firstly we suggest taking deep breaths whenever possible.

But on-topic though – Inability or difficulty managing daily tasks such as walking distances / doing exercises due to compromised respiratory function could be early signs associated with fractures within thoracic regions resulting in harm along adjacent lung tissue directly hitting ability amongst your complete repertoire When discussing what constitutes normal compared with potential hazards concerning recovery from broken back injuries -there’s no need for us to exaggerate physical limitations/limitations occurring internally!

It goes without saying that hopefully, none of you will ever find yourselves scrolling for ‘how-to’ guides after sustaining severe bodily damage…However-in case terrible luck strikes: always ensure someone knows where you’re going before embarking upon adrenaline fueled endeavors/in travels requiring extensive movement so they can keep track should injury happen/recovery plans become necessary later down another point.

Stay safe out there friends!