Disc and Spine Injuries
The impact of a car accident can lead to a jarring of the body that puts severe pressure on vulnerable parts of the body. When such pressure is applied to the spine, a variety of severe conditions can result including ruptured and herniated discs.
The spine is made up of three areas that can be damaged during a motor vehicle accident. Each of these areas contains a certain number of vertebrae, which are the bony portions of the spine.
- Cervical spine located in the neck region contains seven vertebrae.
- Thoracic spine located in the center area of the spine contains 12 vertebrae
- Lumbar spine located in the lower area of the spine contains 5 vertebrae.
Each of the vertebrae in the three areas of the spine are divided by interverbral membranes known as discs which function as a sort of shock absorber for the spine. During a car accident, impact to the spine can cause a slight protrusion of the center of the disc into the spinal canal leading to a condition known as a bulging disc. If the bulging disc’s soft inner cushion breaks through its outer cartilage, pressure on a nerve root may result, a condition known as a ruptured disc. In some cases, the disc can rupture to the point where pieces of the disc break off and enter the spinal canal. This leads to a more serious and advanced condition known as a herniated disc (sometimes incorrectly known as a slipped disc).
Note: Herniated disc and ruptured disc are sometimes used interchangeably in common language.
Bulging, ruptured and herniated discs are generally diagnosed by a physical exam. In most cases, a CAT scan and MRI are given to confirm whether the accident caused a lesion in the spine that may not be felt by the injured person. Once the doctor confirms the diagnosis, he or she will adjust treatment depending on whether the pain is due to either one of two reasons:
1) Pinched nerve - Occurs when the herniated disc is pinching a nerve in the spine. The pain a pinched nerve produces is called radicular pain. Radicular pain caused by a herniated disc often radiates down to the lower parts of the body including the thigh, calf, and foot. The pain can be followed by numbness and tingling, muscle weakness, and loss of specific reflexes.
2) Disc Pain (degenerative disc disorder) – Occurs when the disc space itself is painful. The pain is referred to as axial, is normally felt in the lower back, and varies greatly from person to person. The pain remains in the lower back and does not radiate into other parts of the body.
Treatments range from aggressive to conservative depending on the condition and the amount of pain the person is experiencing. Most beginning treatments are dedicated to reducing inflammation surrounding the nerve and include rest, oral/injected steroids, and physical therapy. Narcotics may be used to alleviate severe pain. More advanced treatments can include surgery to remove the herniated disc and some associated conditions. The surgery puts one at a small risk of paralysis and should be considered with great care.
Ruptured and herniated discs are extremely painful and debilitating. The severity of the symptoms can become especially apparent when the injured person tries to sit or stand for an extended period of time. The conditions can lead to weakness, discomfort, numbness, and in the most serious conditions, permanent nerve damage.
Herniated and ruptured discs are complex injuries that are often the subject of litigation. Before undergoing long-term treatment for a herniated and ruptured disc, it is essential that you contact a qualified personal injury law firm such as The Law Offices of Jonathan B. Nelson, PC. We can provide you with a comprehensive case analysis that may lead to significant compensation for your emotional, physical, and financial suffering.
» Other Spinal injuries
In most cases, the backbone simply pinches the spinal cord, causing it to be bruised and sometimes leading to the bulging, herniated, and ruptured disc conditions mentioned above. However, in more serious cases, injuries can result to the spinal cord that disrupts its ability to serve as a messenger between the brain and the body, a condition known as paralysis.
Paralysis is a complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups. The degree of paralysis is determined by finding the lowermost area of the spinal cord below which there is a diminished or complete loss of feeling and/or movement. The degree of paralysis will increase the closer the injury was to the brain on the vertebral column. The medical profession has given classifications to the degree of paralysis experienced by a person. Two oft named and more serious degrees of paralysis are referred to as quadriplegia a.k.a. tetraplegia and paraplegia.
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