What You Need to Know About Herniated Disc Injuries After A Car Accident

In today’s hustling time, everyone is in a hurry to cover the distance on their way to work and home by road. And, with this speedy approach to life, car accidents have become a common mishap on the streets of Florida. In most cases, neck injuries badly affect the personal injury victims who have been in car accidents. Neck and back injuries may leave the victim with herniated disc injuries. Often, after one has been in a car crash, the injury victim does not experience the immediate pain of running into an emergency room. Physical damages like herniated discs from a motor vehicle accident can create problems in the victim’s life at a later phase. When the pain finally hits, it might increase with time, and it presents random body movement challenges before the victim, obstructing the range of motion. 

A herniated disc injury can be disastrous, resulting in excruciating pain, issues with mobility, and other long-term orthopedic concerns. In case, you or anyone in your family has been through a car accident, consult our experienced medical practitioners at Injury Rely. Our expert medical professionals can diagnose the underlying damages and treat your injury with the best medical assistance, paving the path towards a smooth recovery.  

What is a Herniated Disc? 

Herniated discs primarily result from car accident injuries. Each spinal disc, located throughout the length of our spine, cushions the vertebrae above and below. The discs consist of jelly-life tissue that absorbs all kinds of shocks and forces of sudden, quick movements. The spine discs protect the spinal cord through shock absorption, pressure distribution, and movement facilitation. In a car accident, the speed of the motor vehicle and strong force can result in the disc slipping out of place. 

A herniated disc is also termed a slipped disc. The injury occurs mostly in areas like the cervical spine at the neck, the lumbar spine in the lower back, and the thoracic spine in the middle of your back. Some personal injury victims do not feel any back pain at all, and no surgery is required in their cases. According to AANS (American Association of Neurological Surgeons), a herniated disc is most likely to develop in the lumbar spine. When the rupture strikes a nerve, it can result in severe pain and frailty in the arm or the feet. 

Symptoms: How Do You Know You Have A Herniated Disc 

A few common symptoms might come under observation immediately after one has been through a car accident. Symptoms may include,

1. Chronic back and neck pain
2. Muscle weakness
3. Numbness and tingling 
4. Extreme pain 
5. Burning sensation

Herniated discs may cause sharp, unbearable pain down the shoulder, back, and arms. As the spine disc puts pressure on the surrounding nerves, the pain breaks outwards from the source of damage. When the nerves and damaged discs collide, the victim might experience a tingling sensation throughout the injured area. The muscles around the discs may also shrink. The internal wounds might cause the victim to suffer from weakness in muscles and inconsistent coordination while walking. You may find it impossible to hold or lift an object. 

The symptoms may vary on the exact location of the cervical herniated disc. For instance, a herniated disc between C4 and C5 vertebrae causes fragility in the shoulder muscle, while a disc between C5 and C6 vertebrae can affect the bicep muscles. In case, the outer shell breaks, the soft tissues tear up and disorient the nerve endings. 

How to Diagnose Herniated Disc After A Car Accident? 

How to tell whether you have got a herniated disc from a motor vehicle accident? 

The neck is the most vulnerable organ when one suffers a car crash. A herniated disc is one of the most common car accident injuries. When a car is about to hit, the seatbelt restrains the body of the passenger to the seat, but the strong force during the collision whips the neck violently back and forth. The herniated disc area pressurises the nerves in the neck, resulting in pain.  

Pain is the most common symptom of a herniated disc. When the victim starts experiencing piercing pain and other symptoms, it’s time to visit the doctor. Medical professionals may suggest a CT scan or neck MRI to identify the causing factor of the pain. The expert healthcare professionals at Injury Rely detect herniated discs using a number of diagnostic tests, like electromyography, myelography, and discography.  

Generally, the initial treatments for herniated discs involve noninvasive techniques such as complete rest, over-the-counter medication, and physical therapy. When the intensity of pain increases, our experienced professionals may prescribe intravenous medicines, and if that, too, remains ineffective, the doctor may recommend surgery.   

Medical Treatment for A Herniated Disc  

While some injuries immediately show up after an accident, car accident injuries like herniated discs might not. It is very important to seek medical treatment on time so the doctor can run the necessary tests to understand the depth of the injury. During the ongoing process, the victims are instructed to rest, limit body movements, avoid stress on specific body parts, and avoid heavy exertion. 

Unfortunately, if you or anyone you know has suffered a herniated disc in a car accident, medical professionals would prefer the non-invasive treatment method first. May be a few sessions of physical therapy help you with a better range of motion with time. 

The treatment options available for severe herniated disc injuries include ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion), Lumbar Fusion Surgery, and Microdiscectomy. On a positive note, doctors can cure most herniated disc injuries using proper treatment methods. But for that, you need timely medical attention. Don’t delay in connecting with Injury Rely for the best medical assistance needed immediately after a vehicle accident. 

Contact Injury Rely in Orlando, Florida 

Remember who to call immediately if you have got injuries in a car accident due to someone else’s fault or negligence. Yes, the name will always be Injury Rely. If you or anyone you know has sustained serious injuries like herniated disc damage in a car accident, our medical professionals are the most prompt to help you and smoothen your path to recovery with proper treatment measures.