Category: Back Pain Treatment

See a chiropractor within 24 to 72 hours of a slip and fall if you have back, neck, hip, or shoulder pain, stiffness, or headaches without emergency warning signs. Go to the ER first if you hit your head and feel confused or nauseated, take blood thinners and struck your head, can’t bear weight, or suspect a broken bone. 

In North Carolina, your bills may be paid by the property owner’s medical payments coverage, their liability insurance, workers’ compensation if you fell at work, your health insurance, or a medical lien through your attorney.

Falls feel embarrassing, so many people brush them off and go home. Then the stiffness shows up the next morning. This guide helps you decide where to go first, explains which injuries falls tend to cause, and walks through who pays based on where you fell.

Should You See a Chiropractor or Go to the ER After a Slip and Fall?

Go to the ER for any sign of a head injury, fracture, or nerve emergency, and see a chiropractor for back, neck, joint, and muscle pain once those emergencies have been ruled out.

Use this table to decide where to start:

Go to the ER now	See a chiropractor within 24 to 72 hours	Do both, ER first
Hit your head and feel confused, drowsy, or nauseated, or you vomited	Back or neck pain and stiffness	You went to the ER, imaging was clear, and you still hurt days later
Hit your head while taking a blood thinner	Pain in the hip, shoulder, or tailbone without signs of a break	You were told to “follow up” for a sprain or strain
Can’t put weight on a leg, or a limb looks deformed	Headaches that started after the fall, with no red flags	You have new numbness or tingling that’s mild and not worsening
Numbness in the groin, or new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels	Soreness that’s worse the morning after
Severe pain after a fall in an older adult with osteoporosis	Reduced range of motion

For head injuries, MedlinePlus lists warning signs that need emergency care, including loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, confusion, and a worsening headache (MedlinePlus: Head injury first aid). Don’t wait those out.

If you’re unsure whether you need imaging or a specialist first, our guide on orthopedic vs. chiropractor: who to see first can help.

What Injuries Do Slip and Fall Accidents Usually Cause?

Slip and fall accidents most often cause low back and neck strains, tailbone and hip pain, shoulder injuries, and wrist injuries, and the pattern depends on which direction you fell.

How you land shapes what hurts:

How you fell	Common injuries
Feet slipped out, landed backward	Low back strain, tailbone pain, whiplash-type neck strain as the head snaps back
Tripped forward	Wrist and hand sprains, shoulder strain, knee pain
Fell sideways	Hip pain, shoulder injury, rib and mid-back soreness
Fell on stairs	Several areas at once, often back, neck, and hip
Caught yourself without falling	Low back and shoulder strain from the sudden twist or grab

Keith Clinic treats the injuries falls commonly cause, including spinal, soft tissue, joint, and whiplash-type injuries. Hands are a frequent casualty because people instinctively reach out to break a fall. Our guide to hand and wrist pain that won’t go away explains when a chiropractor helps and when you need someone else.

Why Does Pain From a Fall Sometimes Show Up Days Later?

Pain after a fall often shows up a day or more later because adrenaline masks it at first and inflammation in strained soft tissue builds over the following 24 to 72 hours.

Right after a fall, your stress response can dull pain long enough for you to get up, finish your errand, and drive home. As that wears off, swelling in strained muscles and ligaments increases, and stiffness sets in. That’s why many people feel worse on day two than on day one.

The same pattern shows up after car accidents. Our article on how stress and adrenaline affect your body after an accident explains what’s happening in more detail. If pain shows up late, get checked as soon as it does.

What Does a Chiropractor Do for Slip and Fall Injuries?

A chiropractor evaluates your injuries, orders X-rays when they’re clinically needed, and builds a treatment plan that typically combines spinal adjustments, soft tissue work, and supportive therapies.

At Keith Clinic, a slip and fall visit usually follows these steps:

• History of the fall: Where it happened, how you landed, and when symptoms started.
• Physical exam: Range of motion, strength, reflexes, and tender areas, including injuries that may not hurt yet.
• Imaging when needed: In-office X-rays are available when the exam calls for them. Our article on why X-rays may be important after an accident explains when they help.
• A plan specific to your fall: This may include spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and therapies such as massage, therapeutic ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, intersegmental traction, cold laser, and heat or cold therapy.
• Referral if needed: If your exam suggests a fracture or something outside chiropractic care, we refer you to the right provider.
• Documentation at every visit: Exam findings, diagnosis, and progress notes are recorded from the first visit, which matters if someone else is responsible for your fall.

Who Pays for Treatment After a Slip and Fall in North Carolina?

Who pays after a slip and fall in North Carolina depends on where you fell: a business’s insurance, a homeowner’s policy, workers’ compensation, or your own health insurance, with a medical lien available if you have an attorney.

Start with the location of your fall:

Where you fell	Who may pay	What to know
A store, restaurant, or other business	The business’s liability insurance, plus any medical payments provision in its policy	Liability usually pays at settlement; medical payments can pay sooner without proving fault
Someone else’s home	The homeowner’s “Medical Payments to Others” coverage, then their personal liability coverage	Standard NC homeowner policies usually carry at least $1,000 in medical payments coverage (NCDOI homeowners guide)
Your workplace	Workers’ compensation	Pays regardless of fault; chiropractic care is covered in North Carolina (NC Industrial Commission)
An apartment complex common area	The property owner’s or manager’s liability insurance	Report it to management in writing
Your own home	Your health insurance	Your own homeowner’s policy doesn’t cover your injuries
Public property	A claim against the government entity	Rules differ; talk with an attorney promptly

A few details make a big difference:

• Homeowner medical payments coverage is meant to be simple: The NCDOI guide explains it pays reasonable medical expenses for guests accidentally hurt on the property, up to a set limit, with no deductible. It doesn’t pay for pain and suffering or lost time, and it doesn’t cover people who live in the home.
• Workers’ comp has its own steps: Report the injury to your employer in writing as soon as practical and within 30 days, and tell every provider the injury is work-related (NC Industrial Commission). Your employer may direct where you’re treated, so ask before you start care. Keith Clinic works with workers’ comp insurers and documents work injuries to support claims.
• A lien can bridge the wait: If you have an attorney, Keith Clinic can provide treatment on a medical lien, with fees paid from your case proceeds when it resolves. If you need an attorney, our team can refer you to local firms.

Our personal injury chiropractor cost guide lists typical treatment costs, including a planning range for fall-related injuries. Note that auto MedPay generally doesn’t apply to a slip and fall unless a vehicle was involved; our MedPay guide explains when it does.

What Do You Have to Prove in a North Carolina Slip and Fall Claim?

To recover from a property owner in North Carolina, you generally have to show the owner failed to use reasonable care, usually because they knew or should have known about the hazard and didn’t fix it or warn you.

In Nelson v. Freeland (1998), the North Carolina Supreme Court held that property owners owe all lawful visitors a duty of reasonable care, replacing the older split between “invitees” and “licensees” (FindLaw summary). Owners aren’t insurers of everyone who walks in, so a fall alone isn’t enough.

Two other North Carolina rules shape these claims:

• Contributory negligence: If you’re found even slightly at fault, such as looking at your phone or ignoring a warning sign, you may be barred from recovering (UNC School of Government). Property owners’ insurers raise this often.
• Time limits: Most personal injury claims must be filed within three years, though claims against government entities can involve different rules.

Because of contributory negligence, North Carolina slip and fall claims are harder than in most states. That makes evidence from the first days after a fall especially important.

This section is general information, not legal advice. Talk with a North Carolina personal injury attorney about your specific situation.

What Should You Do in the First 72 Hours After a Slip and Fall?

In the first 72 hours, report the fall, photograph the hazard, collect witness names, and get evaluated, because evidence and early symptoms are easiest to capture right away.

Work through this list as soon as you’re safe:

1. Report it: Tell the manager, owner, or landlord, and ask for a copy of any incident report.
2. Photograph everything: The spill, uneven step, ice, poor lighting, missing handrail, and any warning signs or the lack of them.
3. Get witness names and numbers: Employees and other customers both count.
4. Keep your shoes and clothes: Don’t wash or throw them out; they can show what you were wearing and how you fell.
5. Get evaluated: Go to the ER for red flags, or see a chiropractor within 24 to 72 hours for back, neck, and joint pain.
6. Write down what happened: Note the time, place, and what you remember while it’s fresh.
7. Be careful with insurance calls: Consider talking with an attorney before giving a recorded statement to the property owner’s insurer.
8. Keep every bill and record: Then follow your treatment plan. Missed visits can weaken both your recovery and your claim, as we explain in our guide to gaps in treatment after an accident (link once published).

Are Older Adults at Higher Risk of Serious Injury From a Fall?

Yes. Older adults are more likely to be seriously hurt in a fall, and more than 3.85 million adults 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for fall injuries in 2023.

According to the National Safety Council, fall-related ER visits among adults 65 and older rose 38% over the past decade. Bone density changes, slower reflexes, and medications that affect balance all raise the risk that a simple slip becomes a fracture.

For older adults, that changes the order of care. Imaging comes first when a fracture is possible, and treatment is adjusted to the person’s bone health and overall condition. Keith Clinic works with seniors regularly, and our article on how chiropractic care helps older adults stay mobile covers what gentle, age-appropriate care looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care After a Slip and Fall

How soon should I see a chiropractor after a fall?

Ideally within 24 to 72 hours, after any emergency signs have been ruled out. Early care captures your injuries before stiffness sets in and creates a clear record linking them to the fall.

Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor after a slip and fall?

No. You can book directly at Keith Clinic without a referral, and same-day appointments are available at all six locations.

Can a chiropractor help tailbone pain after a fall?

Often, yes, once a fracture has been ruled out. Tailbone pain from a backward fall frequently involves the low back and pelvis, which a chiropractor can evaluate and treat.

What if I fell at work?

Report it to your employer in writing right away and ask where you should be treated. North Carolina workers’ comp covers chiropractic care, and Keith Clinic works with workers’ comp insurers.

What if I don’t have health insurance?

Ask about the property owner’s medical payments coverage, workers’ comp if you fell at work, or a medical lien if you have an attorney. If none apply, call us to talk through options before you skip care.

Get Checked Before Stiffness Turns Into Something Bigger

Most people who slip and fall walk away thinking they’re fine. The ones who recover fastest are usually the ones who got checked early, while their injuries were easiest to treat and easiest to document.

If you’ve had a fall and something still doesn’t feel right, visit any of our six locations across Charlotte, Gastonia, and Kings Mountain. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can book an appointment online. Learn more on our personal injury care page.

Disclaimer: This article is general information and is not medical or legal advice. If you have emergency symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. For questions about a claim, talk with a licensed North Carolina attorney.

 

Most pulled back muscles heal on their own within a few days to two weeks, and more than 90% recover fully within a month. So the real skill is telling the strain that will quietly resolve on its own apart from the smaller number of cases that need help. Get that call right and you save yourself an unnecessary visit, or a longer recovery.

What Does a Pulled Back Muscle Feel Like?

A pulled back muscle is a strain, which means muscle fibers were overstretched or partly torn. It causes pain that stays in the back, often to one side, that worsens with movement and eases with rest.

Signs include:

• Pain centered in the muscle of your lower back, usually on one side
• Stiffness, tightness, or muscle spasm (an involuntary clench that can feel sharp)
• Pain that worsens when you bend, twist, or move, and eases when you rest
• Tenderness when you press on the area

A related injury, a sprain, affects the ligaments (the bands connecting bone to bone) rather than the muscle. The two feel similar and are treated the same way.

What matters most is where the pain stays. A pulled muscle produces pain that stays in your back, or at most spreads into the buttock. Pain that travels down the leg, or numbness and tingling below the knee, is a different signal covered further down.

How Long Does a Pulled Back Muscle Take to Heal?

Most pulled back muscles heal within a few days to six weeks depending on severity, and more than 90% of people recover completely within one month. Clinicians grade strains by how much the muscle was damaged, and the timeline follows the grade:

Grade	What happened	Typical recovery
Grade 1 (mild)	Small stretch, microscopic damage	A few days to about 2 weeks
Grade 2 (moderate)	Partial tearing of fibers	A few weeks, up to 6
Grade 3 (severe)	Major or complete tear	2 months or longer; occasionally needs specialist care

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, more than 90% of people completely recover from a lumbar strain or sprain within one month (AANS, low back strain and sprain).

But the pain usually fades before the muscle is fully repaired. Healing tissue is weakest in the first couple of weeks even as it starts to feel better, so returning to heavy lifting too soon is a common way to reinjure it and turn a two-week problem into a two-month one.

When Can You Treat a Pulled Back Muscle at Home?

You can safely wait it out with self-care when the pain stays in your back, is improving day by day over the first week, and is not stopping you from moving normally.

What the evidence supports:

• Keep moving: Gentle activity beats rest. Extended bed rest is one of the few things shown to slow recovery, so avoid more than a day or so of taking it easy (US Pain, lower back strain treatment).
• Ice, then heat: Ice for the first 48 to 72 hours to calm inflammation, then heat to loosen tight muscle.
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories: Medications like ibuprofen or naproxen (NSAIDs) can take the edge off while it heals, used as directed.
• Ease back gradually: Return to walking early, and reintroduce heavier activity slowly.

Give this a fair week or two. Clear improvement over the first several days usually means self-care will carry you the rest of the way.

When Should You See a Chiropractor for a Pulled Back Muscle

See a chiropractor if the pain has not improved after one to two weeks, keeps coming back, is limiting your daily life, or you simply want to recover faster.

Any one of these is reason enough:

• No improvement after one to two weeks: Guidance points to this window as the time to seek care rather than keep waiting (AANS).
• Recurring strains, which often signal an underlying movement or strength issue.
• Pain that limits work, sleep, or normal movement.
• Wanting a faster, guided recovery, even without being in trouble.

A chiropractor treats a strain with hands-on care to restore movement and ease muscle tension, plus exercise and guidance to prevent the next episode. Spinal manipulation is an evidence-supported option for acute low back pain and performs about as well as other first-line, non-drug approaches. 

It also has a strong safety record for this kind of pain; a large study found chiropractic manipulation was not a risk factor for serious complications in low back pain patients (spinal manipulation cohort, 2024).

What Are the Warning Signs It’s Not Just a Pulled Muscle?

Certain symptoms mean your back pain needs medical attention rather than self-care. The most urgent are loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or saddle area, and new weakness in both legs.

Serious causes are uncommon, under 5% of cases, but a few are time-sensitive (primary care review of low-back pain).

Go to the ER now for signs of cauda equina syndrome, a rare compression of the nerve bundle at the base of the spine:

• New loss of bladder or bowel control, or trouble urinating
• Numbness in the saddle area (groin, buttocks, inner thighs)
• New weakness in both legs
• These can develop within hours, so do not wait

See a provider soon for:

• Pain radiating down one leg, especially below the knee, or numbness, tingling, or weakness in a leg or foot
• Back pain after significant trauma such as a fall or crash
• Fever with back pain, a history of cancer, unexplained weight loss, or pain clearly worse at night
• Pain that steadily worsens despite a week or two of good self-care

It is reasonable to wait and self-treat when the pain stays in your back, eases over the first several days, and none of the above apply.

Functional changes matter more than pain intensity. Severe muscle pain is common and rarely dangerous. Loss of bladder control is the reverse.

Is It a Pulled Muscle or a Herniated Disc?

A pulled muscle causes pain that stays in the back and eases with rest. A herniated disc presses on a nerve and sends pain, numbness, or tingling down into the leg, often past the knee.

The quick test is location and travel:

• Stays in the back or buttock, worse with movement points to muscle.
• Shoots down the leg, with numbness or tingling below the knee points to a pinched nerve.

Sciatica is the name for that traveling leg pain when a lower-back nerve is irritated. For a fuller breakdown of nerve-related leg pain and its timeline, see our guide on how long sciatica lasts. 

If your pain followed a crash rather than everyday movement, how long after an accident you should get checked is the more relevant read.

Next Steps: How To Tell Do You Know If You’re Getting Better?

You are recovering well when you can move more freely each day, the pain is shrinking toward a smaller area, and you need less medication, even if some soreness lingers.

Signs you are on track:

• More freedom of movement day to day
• Pain concentrating in a smaller spot rather than spreading
• Stiffness easing as the day goes on and after gentle movement
• Less reliance on over-the-counter medication
• Activities that hurt last week feeling manageable this week

If you see that trend within the first several days to a week, keep going. If the trend is flat or worsening at the one to two week mark, that is your cue to get it looked at.

Conclusion

A pulled back muscle is usually a waiting game, and time is on your side. Give it a week or two of gentle movement, heat, and patience. Go in if it stalls, keeps returning, or limits your life, and treat the red flags as non-negotiable trips to the ER.

If you are in the Charlotte area and your back pain is not settling the way it should, Keith Clinic offers drug-free, non-invasive evaluation and treatment for muscular back pain, with same-day appointments across six locations. 

Our team can tell you whether you have a simple strain that needs a little help along, or something worth a closer look, so you are not left guessing at the two-week mark.