Herniated Disc from Car Accident? Here are a Few Things You Should Know
A car accident subjects the human body to extreme forces. The more severe the collision, the more likely you are to get seriously injured. As the foundation of your skeletal structure, the spine is an essential collection of bones, nerves, and other elements that make it possible to stand, sit, walk, and feel sensations.
If you get into a car accident, one of the most common spinal injuries is disc herniation. Although a herniated disc could be a minor issue and may never display serious symptoms, it is also possible for it to alter your lifestyle. Let’s discuss what a herniated disc is, how it can affect you, and what solutions are available to deal with this type of injury.
Understanding Herniated Discs
The spine consists of multiple bones stacked on each other, called vertebrae. Between these vertebrae are intervertebral discs, which are rubbery cushions that allow flexibility in the spine. An intervertebral disc also prevents the bones from grinding against each other..
A disc herniation occurs when there is an issue with the jelly-like disc material (nucleus) in the center of the disc or the rubbery exterior (annulus). A tear in the exterior causes the fluid in the nucleus to leak out, often pushing against nearby nerves. Bulging and herniated discs are sometimes called ruptured discs or slipped discs.
A herniated disc is most likely in the lumbar spine, also known as the lower back. Disc herniation also frequently occurs near the neck, called the cervical spine. Although herniated discs in the mid back, or thoracic spine, are less common, they can happen in the event of a severe car accident.
How Car Accidents Cause a Bulging or Herniated Disc
The primary cause of herniated or bulging disc injuries in car accidents is the blunt-force trauma involved. Your body gets thrown in unnatural directions at high speeds, which can shift things in the body and cause disc herniation. Several factors may play a role in causing disc damage.
The Impact of Force on the Spine
When a herniated disc occurs because of a car crash, it is usually caused by impact force on the spine. A fast compression of the back or whiplash can easily result in ruptures or tears in intervertebral discs. Rear-end collisions are known to result in damage to the spinal cord because of the abrupt whiplash. Side-impact collisions, or T-bone accidents, can twist the spine unnaturally, often resulting in severe spinal cord injuries.
If you are in a rollover car accident, then the chances of a disc herniation are increased. Rollover car accidents subject the body to multiple violent movements, causing the spine to endure compressive forces, twists, and impacts that can trigger herniation.
Other Contributing Factors
A car accident may not be the only reason for a disc herniation. Pre-existing stress on the spinal column could make you especially vulnerable to a herniated disc injury. For example, some degenerative diseases can cause weakened discs in the spinal canal. Additionally, if you have poor posture or biomechanics, your discs may already be weakened and more likely to rupture.
Previous back injuries, perhaps from sports or other activities, would also increase the likelihood of disc herniation during a car accident. If previous events or diseases have caused disc degeneration, an accident can easily cause a herniated disc because of the compromised tissue.
Symptoms of a Herniated Disc After a Car Accident
If you are ever involved in a car accident, you should seek medical treatment immediately. Even if you do not feel any physical side effects from the crash, internal injuries like herniated discs often do not manifest symptoms until much later. A minor injury may not have any side effects, while a permanent injury may impact your mobility for the rest of your life.
If you experience any of these common herniated disc symptoms in the days, weeks, or even months after the car accident, you need to seek medical attention.
Back Pain
Severe pain is the most common symptom of a herniated disc. Whether this is chronic pain that never seems to fade or pain that only manifests when you are in a particular position, it could be the result of disc herniation.
If the pain worsens with movement, this is a telltale sign of disc herniations. Whether you are experiencing thoracic pain, cervical pain, or lumbar pain, schedule an appointment to get examined.
Neck Pain
A cervical disc herniation would likely be extremely painful for your neck. It may not even be pain you are dealing with but stiffness or a smaller range of motion. That pain can also radiate to your shoulders or arms if the disc herniation is severe. If you do not want to aggravate pain in your neck, then a treatment plan for a herniated disc may be necessary.
Numbness and Tingling
As mentioned previously, the spinal column is the primary route for the entire nervous system. If there is a disc bulge or rupture, it could disrupt that system. As a result, you may feel numbness in your arms, legs, hands, or feet. These nerve compression symptoms could indicate that you have experienced severe injuries to your spine.
Muscle Weakness
Weak muscles are a common side effect of nerve compression. Since disc herniations involve the nucleus pushing on nearby nerves, the signals that move between your brain and the rest of your body could be disrupted.
As a result, you may have trouble using your muscles to their total capacity. Any signs of weakness in the muscles, especially after a car accident, should convince you to seek medical attention right away.
Difficulty Walking or Standing
It could be challenging to walk or stand if you have weak muscles, pain, or nerve compression symptoms. You might feel too weak to do so or experience leg pain. Herniated discs can affect the whole nervous system, so be aware of your ability to stand and walk after car accidents. A lumbar disc injury often has side effects related to your mobility.
Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control
A ruptured or bulging disc can sometimes be severe enough to affect your other faculties. That means a loss of bowel or bladder control. If you notice you are struggling to reach the bathroom, schedule a medical exam immediately to test for disc injuries. Even if the changes are minor, they could indicate a deeper issue with bulging discs, and failing to seek treatment quickly could exacerbate the symptoms.
Diagnosing a Herniated Disc
Do not attempt to self-diagnose ruptured or bulging discs. The severe pain or numbness you are experiencing may not be related to disc herniations. A physical examination by a medical professional is needed to diagnose the issue properly. This could involve X-rays of your back, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), CT scans, or a discogram.
A doctor might also perform nerve conduction studies or an electromyography (EMG) test. The results from these methods will determine if you have a herniated disc.
Treatment Options for Herniated Discs
In many cases, herniated discs do not require extensive treatment. Pain management techniques and light lifestyle changes may be enough to mitigate the effects of the bulging disc injury. However, some cases are more severe. Here are a few common ways to treat herniated disc symptoms.
Conservative Treatments
Conservative treatments are usually sufficient to avoid lifelong problems for a less serious ruptured disc. Resting after a car accident and altering your physical activity patterns can help with the healing process. Physical therapy and specific exercises recommended by your doctor can also help. If permanent pain is an issue, you can use medications or injections to relieve pain.
Minimally Invasive Procedures
If further medical attention is needed after the car accident, you may discuss minimally invasive options with your doctor. This can include epidural steroid injections, nerve root blocks, or radiofrequency ablation.
Surgical Options
For a very serious bulging disc injury, spinal surgery might be the only option to avoid significant lifestyle changes. A discectomy will remove all or parts of a disc to relieve pressure on nerve roots. A laminectomy is a more dire surgery that removes part of the vertebrae to help the surrounding nerves. Lastly, a spinal fusion joins two vertebrae together to reduce movement and fix a severe disc injury.
Legal Considerations After a Car Accident
A car accident that results in an injured disc could cause significant losses. You may struggle with the financial and emotional implications of the collision if a disc herniates. If someone else’s negligence caused that accident, you could pursue a car accident settlement to cover your losses.
Proving the Herniated Disc is Accident-Related
To win a car accident lawsuit, you must prove that the collision was caused by someone else and that you suffered legal damages. That means you will need evidence to support your injury claim. Types of evidence that will help your herniated disc claim include medical records, eyewitness statements, expert testimony, police reports, and accident images.
It should be noted that waiting to file a claim can be a detriment to your case. Evidence tends to expire quickly, so the sooner you start collecting data to support your claim, the easier it is to build a strong case. If possible, this evidence-gathering phase should begin the moment the collision occurs.
Seeking Compensation for Damages
Pursuing a claim is to win fair compensation for legal damages. There are many types of damages you can fight for with your claim, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, emotional distress, physical pain, disability, and loss of quality of life. These damages fall into two categories: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are related to the financial impact of the incident, while non-economic damages address the long-term emotional impact of the injuries.
In cases where the victim has died in a car accident, a surviving family member can also claim wrongful death damages. These include many of the elements listed above, plus funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship.
Another category of damages is punitive damages. This additional compensation is only levied on the defendant if they behaved with gross negligence or malicious intent.
The Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer
Hiring the right lawyer is the key to winning a personal injury claim after a car crash. Car accident lawyers specialize in helping injured victims recover compensation for their damages. If you have suffered in a motor vehicle collision, a bulging disc could force you to pay for physical therapy or miss time at work.
Recovering these losses will be the goal of your personal injury attorney. This legal professional will ensure your rights are protected. They will help you build a strong case with substantial evidence so you can focus more on the physical recovery.
When car accident injuries cause financial and emotional distress, experienced lawyers can improve your chances of claiming compensation and holding the at-fault party responsible. These individuals are essential in preventing accident victims from losing all their money on medical bills for treatment. It is also important to level the playing field against a stubborn defendant, their insurance company, and their lawyers.
Seeking Legal Guidance on Your Path to Recovery and Healing
Recovering from a car crash and dealing with injuries such as herniated or bulging discs can be challenging. Seeking legal guidance can help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The Mitch Grissim & Associates team will guide you through the claims process. We have decades of experience helping victims earn fair compensation for their losses. A personal injury lawyer from our firm will investigate your case, discuss your options, gather solid evidence, negotiate with the insurance company, and represent you in court if necessary.
It all starts with a free consultation today. You can contact our legal team to build a strong case for you. Call us now at 615-255-9999 or complete the contact form to get your free case evaluation.
