subject: Herniated Discs and Car Accidents [print this page] Herniated Discs and Car Accidents Herniated Discs and Car Accidents
While many people see car accidents as causing injuries mainly to the front of the body, they can actually cause a lot of harm to an accident victim's neck, back and spinal column. The forceful impact caused by serious car crashes can place a lot of strain on these parts of the body that can result in painful injury. This article will discuss cervical disc herniation, which is unfortunately all too common in car accidents. The safety features present in cars do a good job protecting people, but in high speed collisions, there is nothing that can stop the spine from twisting and jerking in unnatural directions. Victims of car accidents are especially prone to a herniated disc, because of the way their car can be hit by the at-fault driver. The spinal column is composed of vertebrae (the bones of the spinal column) and intervertebral discs, which are designed to cushion the vertebrae so they do not rub on each other. When the body takes on a sudden strong force, as happens in many auto accidents, the discs can bulge and break open. There is gel inside of the disc that allows it to act as a cushion, which spills out and pinches the spinal nerves. This injury, also known as a ruptured disc, usually occurs in the lower spine, but may also happen further up the spine as well. When the gel or disc pinches on the spinal nerve, it can cause serious pain and discomfort. The severity of the disc injury determines the symptoms that come along with it. When the herniated disc bulges, but does not pinch a spinal nerve, then the victim may feel absolutely nothing and not even know that they are injured. When the injury does press against a nerve, it can cause a significant amount of pain, weakness or numbing in the part of the body that the nerve travels. The most common injury is known as sciatica. This is when a herniated disc pinches on a nerve in the lower spine, causing pain in the buttocks and leg. Doctors are able to diagnose a herniated disc simply by asking the patient questions about their pain and how the injury happened. This can be confirmed through the use of an MRI or CT scan. A herniated disc is undoubtedly a very painful injury, but for the most part, it heals within a few weeks or months. The most important thing someone can do who is suffering from this injury is rest and take care of their back. Usually there is not much that the doctor can do other than prescribe medication to help relieve the pain. The best cure is usually just time. Only 1 in every 10 people who have a herniated disc will require surgery to heal. If you have suffered a herniated disc as the result of an auto accident caused by someone else, you should first immediately seek the medical attention of a doctor, and then the advice of an attorney. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to tell you whether or not you have a case and should take legal action.
