Herniated Discs from Car Accident

A Michigan car accident (car crash) can cause herniated discs, causing minor to severe back and neck pain. Also known as a ruptured, slipped, or bulging disc, a herniated disc resulting from a Michigan car accident can lead to a variety of treatment options.

What Is a Herniated Disc?

Small, spongy discs cushion the vertebrae – or the bones – in your spine. These discs help protect the spine and keep it flexible, where it may work normally and properly. However, it is possible for a disc to break open or bulge.

This result is known as a herniated disc. While herniated disc in the lower back often occur after trauma in the low back, it can occur in the neck or, even more uncommonly, in the upper back.

How Is a Herniated Disc Caused by Car Accident?

A herniated disc can result from normal wear and tear (but more often from trauma). For instance, jobs that require sitting and squatting constantly, as well as those that require a lot of lifting, can be conducive to the forming of a herniated disc. Drying of the discs can occur as you age, and the flexibility of the discs can be lessened.

Of course, a herniated disc can also be caused from an injury to the spine. An injury can cause small cracks or tears to the outermost layer of the disc. When this occurs, gel from the disc will be forced out through those openings. As a result, bulging of the disc can occur; it can also break open or break into pieces.

In a Michigan car accident, impact from the car crash can cause immediate injury to the spine. This can put a lot of stress on the lower or upper back, as well as the spine, giving way to a herniated disc. As pain may not be felt immediately, this is why it’s essential that you contact your Michigan car accident lawyer immediately to report the accident.

Symptoms and Diagnosis After Car Accident

Symptoms of a herniated disc can vary, and even be delayed. Pain, weakness, and numbness in the body are common, as a herniated disc presses on nerve roots. Pain can enter to where the nerve travels, creating possible scenarios of where the pain is felt – as opposed to a general sense of back or neck pain.

As the most common symptom of sciatica, a herniated disc in the lower back can travel down the leg, causing numbness and pain down the leg and around the buttock area. A rare but serious problem, cauda equine syndrome, is experienced when numbness or weakness in both legs, along with a loss of bowel or bladder control, is seen.

Pain may not be felt in these areas, though. A backache or no pain at all can occur when the herniated disc is not putting pressure on a nerve.

In terms of diagnosis, tests such as an MRI or a CT scan can be used to identify the problem. The history, symptoms, and a physical examinations will be used together to form an accurate diagnosis. In the case of a Michigan car accident, experiences from the car crash will help determine the physical effects of the auto accident.

After Car Accident, Herniated Disc Treatment Options

Whether it’s from an auto accident, some other type of injury, or due to natural causes, medical professionals can determine the best course of action for treatment. This can vary greatly depending on not only the injury level, but the individual and his or her history, and other considerations.

Conservative methods exist for treating a herniated disc. Pain relief medications are a common way to begin treating the symptoms of a herniated disc. Combined with physical therapy, they form a common tandem for a successful treatment plan.

Inside and outside of conservative treatment options, physical therapy is an important point for an individual with a herniated disc. Even if a surgical method is used, it is common for physical therapy to help with the recovery process. It not only helps the individual to get back to normal, but it can teach strong body mechanics and strategies to avoid further injuries.

Several surgical options are available. Surgical, as well as non-surgical, spinal decompression can be utilized to treat the disc. More commonly, there are three surgery options when this treatment option is called for:

Discectomy: Removes the herniated disc material that is pressing on the nerve root or spinal cord
Percutaneous Discetomy: This is for discs that haven’t ruptured into the spinal cord, whereby the disc tissue is removed, lessening the size of the disc herniation
Laminotomy and Laminectomy: Surgeries that relieves pressure on the spinal nerve roots and/or spinal cord caused by age-based changes on the spine

Your Next Steps

If you think you have a disc herniation, it is important to receive medical attention. If this is due to a Michigan car accident, you need to report it to a car accident attorney right away.

At The Law Offices of Jason Waechter, you can receive helpful information to guide you along this process. You will need to contact an attorney right away, as you can easily lose leverage for a claim due to certain events. For instance, speaking to insurance representatives, or failing to document correctly, could undermine your efforts.

Contact The Law Offices of Jason Waechter today to discuss your car accident. With millions of dollars recovered, and with a settle rate of over 97 percent, you can feel confident in the expertise and experience of a Michigan car accident lawyer. An auto accident doesn’t have to ruin your finances and chance at a comfortable recovery.

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