Herniated Discs from Car Accidents

We fight for full compensation for back injuries

A herniated disc can be more common than you think. While some herniated discs are caused by normal wear and tear or aging, many result from the impact of an accident. Injuries such as a bulging disc can change your life, making you unable to work or complete your normal day-to-day tasks. Without the proper medical treatment, a herniated disc can lead to long-term pain and disability.

If you were injured in a car accident, you deserve to be compensated for costs like medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. But the insurance company won’t pay up without a fight. That’s why you need an experienced car accident attorney on your side.

What is a herniated disc?

A herniated disc refers to damage to a disc that sits in between the bones of your spine. These discs are essentially rubbery cushions that provide shock absorption while holding your spine together. A herniated disc occurs when the outside of the disc ruptures, allowing the soft inside to bulge out – hence the term “bulging disc.” This injury is also sometimes called a “slipped disc,” but that’s a misnomer because the disc as a whole doesn’t slip out of place.

Discs are named and numbered based on which vertebrae (spinal bones) they are between. For example, the L5-S1 disc is located in a section of the spine called the lumbosacral joint, which is where the lower back meets the sacral area. The L5 refers to the last bone in your lower back and the S1 refers to the first bone in the sacrum.

You may suffer a herniated disc after a car accident. The force and impact of a crash can put extreme pressure on your spine and cause one of your discs to rupture. The lower back is the most common place where people suffer a herniated disc, but car accident victims can also sustain herniated discs in the neck or other parts of the spine.

Symptoms of a herniated disc

After a car accident, you should always seek medical attention. In a lot of cases, symptoms of injuries develop over time. So even if you don’t feel any pain right away, have a medical professional examine you. Getting a thorough diagnosis of your injury benefits both your well-being and the strength of your future case.

People who suffer a bulging disc may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs
• Swelling of the lower back area
• Radiating pain down your legs or arms
• Pain that worsens at night
• Pain from coughing or sneezing

Although most commonly found in the lower back, herniated discs can happen in any part of the spine. If you feel pain in your shoulders and arms, you may have a bulging disc in your neck.

Diagnosis and tests

To diagnose a herniated disc, a doctor may order image testing such as:

• CT scan – A CT scan consists of a bunch of X-rays from different angles and directions to get a full picture of your spine. X-Rays alone cannot detect a herniated disc, but they can rule out other injuries.
• MRI – An MRI uses radio waves and magnetic fields to create an image. This is the most common and accurate test for finding a herniated disc.
• Myelogram – For a myelogram, dye is injected into your spine. X-rays are taken and the dye reveals pressure on the spine or any abnormalities in the spinal column.

Treatment and surgery

Depending on the severity of your herniated disc, treatment may vary. Different treatments include:

• Medications: A doctor may prescribe medications for your bulging disc like pain relievers or muscle relaxants. If your injury is mild, over-the-counter medications may be sufficient.
• Physical therapy: You may need physical therapy after suffering a herniated disc. The exercises and motions you do in physical therapy will help relieve pressure on your nerves, loosen muscles and improve circulation.
• Injections: In some cases, pain may not go away with just oral medication. A spinal injection helps reduce swelling, inflammation, and overall pain.
• Surgery: If the treatments listed above fail to improve symptoms, you may require surgery. The different types of surgery you may need are:
  • Diskectomy – the removal of your herniated disc
  • Laminectomy – the removal of the bone around your herniated disc
  • Artificial disc surgery – replacing the damaged disc with an artificial one
  • Spinal fusion – directly joining two or more bones in your spine together to make your spine more stable

Let us guide you through your case

If you or a loved one has suffered a herniated disc, you should be compensated for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, and other costs. Let us fight for your compensation, while you focus on healing.

Medical expenses add up fast and insurance companies will try to offer you little to nothing. That’s why you need an experienced attorney by your side. Attorney Jeff Weinstein has more than 30 years of legal experience. Our law firm believes in personal service. You’ll have your attorney’s personal cell phone number. We’ll be with you from start to finish. You don’t have to go it alone.

We serve clients in Henderson County and throughout East Texas on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay us nothing unless we win your case. Put your trust in us to handle your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.