Everything You Need to Know About Herniated Disc Injuries
Everything You Need to Know About Herniated Disc Injuries
If you are suffering from back or neck pain, chances are you may have a herniated disc. This type of injury can be caused by all kinds of incidents, some of which involve another liable party. Often, people go through years of treatment, and others have permanent damage from one or more herniated discs. Here is everything you need to know about this specific type of injury so that you can take the appropriate action for treatment and decide whether you may be able to receive compensation for your injury.
What are Discs and Where are They Located?
Let’s start with the spine. It is one of the most important structures in our body because it protects the spinal cord, nerves, and other organs, it provides our body with structural support, allowing it to stay upright, and it allows us to bend and flex.
The spine has four different regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. Each region is composed of cartilaginous or bony segments called vertebrae. The cervical spine (neck region) consists of vertebrae C1-C7; the thoracic region (rib cage area), T1-T12; the lumbar region (lower back, which carries most of the body’s weight), L1-L5; and the sacral region (pelvic area), S1-S5.
Between each vertebra is a pillow-like cushion called an intervertebral disc. These discs are round, with a tough outer layer (annulus) and a gel-like elastic substance inside (nucleus). Discs help to alleviate stresses as the body moves. Think of them as shock absorbers. They also hold the vertebrae of the spine together, keep the vertebrae from grinding against each other, and aid in the mobility of the spine.
How Does a Disc Become Injured or Herniated?
Medically speaking, a disc becomes herniated when a portion of the nucleus is pushed out through a tear in the annulus. A herniated disc is also referred to as a ruptured or slipped disc. While some herniated discs have no symptoms, others can cause extreme pain by the displaced portion of the disc pressing on the spinal nerve. A herniated disc can occur in any region of the spine but is most common in the lower back. However, the neck is another common area for these injuries to appear.
While discs degenerate naturally as we age, increasing the risk of a herniated disc, a single event or incident can also cause a painful herniation. Some common causes may include:
– Car or truck accident
– Recreational vehicle accidents
– Physical assaults
– Lifting heavy objects
– Sporting activities
– Work-related activities
– Repetitive or sharp movements
Common Symptoms of Herniated Discs
Since the spine travels the entire length of the back, symptoms of a herniated disc will often depend on where the injury is located. Keep in mind that certain movements such as moving too quickly or lifting heavy objects could exacerbate your pain.
The most common areas for cervical disc herniations are at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 vertebrae, causing neck, shoulder, and scapula pain among other symptoms. If you have a herniated cervical disc, some other symptoms you may be experiencing include:
– Neck pain you have never had before.
– Numbing, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, hand, or arm (signs that a disc may be pressing on a nerve).
– Loss of balance or a tingling sensation moving into your legs, or loss of fine motor skills (signs that a disc may be pressing on the spinal cord).
Symptoms of a herniated thoracic disc include:
– Neck pain you have never had before.
– Numbing, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, hand, or arm (signs that a disc may be pressing on a nerve).
– Loss of balance or a tingling sensation moving into your legs, or loss of fine motor skills (signs that a disc may be pressing on the spinal cord).
Herniated lumbar disc symptoms include:
– Neck pain you have never had before.
– Numbing, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, hand, or arm (signs that a disc may be pressing on a nerve).
– Loss of balance or a tingling sensation moving into your legs, or loss of fine motor skills (signs that a disc may be pressing on the spinal cord).
Most herniated discs are located in the lumbar region rather than the sacral disc region, but one common area for injury is at the L5-S1 (lumbosacral joint) disc. Symptoms could include:
– Pain, weakness, or numbness in the lower extremities.
– Symptoms typically affect just one leg, although both could be impacted simultaneously.
What Kind of Treatment Can I Expect?
It is good to know that few herniated disc injuries require surgery. Here is what you can expect when you see a doctor for a suspected herniated disc:
A physical exam and medical history can lead your doctor to a diagnosis. If your doctor needs more information, he could arrange for imaging tests including X-rays, a CT scan, or MRI. Nerve tests such as a nerve conduction study or electromyography can reveal the location of nerve damage.
Treatment can include pain medication, muscle relaxers, cortisone injections, rest, and physical therapy. If these treatments don’t improve your symptoms after several weeks, surgery may be considered. In most cases, surgeons can fix the protruding part of the disc rather than removing the disc entirely.
What if Another Person or Party Caused My Herniated Disc?
If you were injured in a motor or recreational vehicle accident, an assault, or perhaps by a slip and fall on someone else’s property, you may be able to be compensated for your injury. You will want to contact a personal injury attorney if you decide to file a lawsuit for damages against the responsible party. You could be compensated for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, mental distress, or other reasons.
Check with your lawyer about your specific situation. A lawyer can help you to obtain the proper evidence and documentation, send a formal demand letter, and walk you through the entire process, step by step. You do not have to do this alone.
If you feel you deserve compensation for your herniated disc(s), most reputable lawyers in Austin, Texas, will provide you with a free consultation. DFox Law, we work on contingency, meaning we don’t collect a penny until your case is one. Don’t delay, give us a call today!
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