A Herniated Disc is a Spinal Injury That May Stop You in Your Tracks
A herniated disc can be a painful spinal injury that may happen if you’re involved in a vehicle accident. This isn’t a condition that should be taken lightly. You need to find an experienced specialist to advise you of your options to treat this condition. If you lack the resources for treatment, pursuing compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit against the other driver may be an option.
Orange County car accident attorney Aaron Hicks knows an accident may turn your life into chaos, especially if it leaves you with a herniated disc. Call his office at (949) 541-9944 or fill out our contact form today to schedule a free consultation so you can discuss your auto accident and possible compensation for your injury with Mr. Hicks.
What is a Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc, also called a slipped or ruptured disc, is a spinal condition that occurs when a rubbery cushion (disc) between individual bones (vertebrae) making up the spine ruptures or bulges out of its normal position. These discs have a tough outer layer (the annulus fibrosus) and a soft, jelly-like center (the nucleus pulposus). When a herniation occurs, the nucleus pulposus may protrude through a tear or weakness in the annulus fibrosus.
What are Herniated Disc Symptoms?
A herniated disc can lead to several problems, including:
- Pressure on Nerves: The herniated disc material can press against nearby spinal nerves, causing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the area of the body served by those nerves. The specific symptoms depend on where in the spine the herniated is located
- Back or Neck Pain: The herniated disc can cause localized pain in the back or neck, particularly near the site of the herniation
- Sciatica: When a herniated disc occurs in the lumbar spine (lower back), it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatica. Sciatica symptoms include pain radiating down one or both legs. It often results in a tingling feeling
- Weakness or Muscle Atrophy: Severe disc herniations can compress nerves to the point they affect muscle function, leading to muscle weakness or atrophy (shrinkage)
- Bowel or Bladder Dysfunction: In very rare cases, a large herniated disc in the lower back can compress the cauda equina, a group of nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord, leading to symptoms like difficulty controlling the bladder or bowels
How a herniated disc may affect you varies. Symptoms may appear immediately after the accident, or you may not feel them for weeks. The injury may be so bad you can’t work or function, or it could be a limitation that just makes your life more difficult.
How Can a Vehicle Accident Cause a Herniated Disc?
An accident can cause a herniated disc through sudden and forceful trauma to the spine. When a vehicle collides with an object or experiences a sudden deceleration (such as in a rear-end collision), the force can subject occupants to significant physical stress, which causes the disc to herniate.
Here’s how a car accident may result in a herniated disc:
- Sudden Impact: In a car accident, occupants may experience a sudden and forceful jolt. The abrupt deceleration or impact can transmit powerful forces through the spine
- Compression and Shearing Forces: During a crash, the spine can experience compression (it’s squeezed together) and may be forced into a particular direction, depending on how the person is sitting, seat belt use, and the collision angle. These forces can cause discs to compress and rupture or herniate
- Twisting or Torque: A rapid change in direction or rotation of the spine can put excessive stress on the discs and surrounding spine
- Impact Location: The location and severity of the impact can influence the type and location of spine injuries
- Pre-existing Conditions: Those with spine conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, before the accident, may be more susceptible to disc herniation
The extent of spine injuries can vary widely depending on how the accident happened, vehicle speed, and your age and overall health. Symptoms may appear immediately or may develop gradually over time.
What are Treatment Options for a Herniated Disc?
Treatment may include:
- Rest
- Physical therapy
- Pain medications
- Surgery, such as a discectomy or spinal fusion, to relieve pressure on the affected nerves or stabilize the spine
You’ll need to discuss treatment approaches, their risks and benefits, with a neurologist experienced with treating spinal injuries, then decide which one is right for you.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Costa Mesa
If you suffer a back injury in a car accident, get medical treatment and call an experienced car accident attorney at the Hicks Law Firm. We can answer your questions, talk about how the law may apply in your case, and discuss how we can help. If you or a loved one suffer a severe injury due to negligence, call us at (949) 541-9944 today.
Aaron Hicks is a civil trial attorney and founder of Hicks Law Firm, based in Orange County with offices in San Diego and Tennessee. His practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, dog bites and wrongful death. Mr. Hicks is and AV Rated attorney, Super Lawyer and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association where he serves as 1st Vice President.
