Herniated Disc

Herniated discs are serious injuries, and may result from car accidents, falls or heavy lifting. The normal spine is S-shaped, when viewed from the side. The curvature actually helps absorb the repeated shock of walking, running and jumping. The spine is wonderfully flexible, but this diminishes with age. The discs of the spine are the shock absorbers, the flexible parts of the spine. They separate the bony segments of the spine, which are very rigid. When the spine is injured by abnormal forces, such as a car accident, sometimes the disc will move, in relation to the bones of the spine. This is a herniated disc. This shift alone might not matter so much, except that the disc often impinges on the nerves that exit from the spine, most often the ones affecting the legs, but sometimes the bowels, bladder or genitals. In automobile accidents, especially frontal collisions, the lower spine is suddenly flexed severely, which may cause protrusion of the disc backward. Back pain tends to be severe, but more worrisome is the possibility of nerve pressure or injury. This is typically manifested by numbness and tingling in the leg, commonly on the outside of the thigh, back of the calf and down into the foot, sometimes involving the big toe. Weakness in the ankle may occur, and the reflexes that the doctor elicits with his little rubber hammer, may diminish. Many patients complain of an electric shock sensation with or without tingling and numbness.

Diagnosing Herniated Disc

Standard X-rays generally are not as effective as the newer Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which clearly demonstrates the relative position of the discs to the bony spine and the nerves. This study will usually clearly mark the site of the problem.

Herniated Disc Treatment

Generally, physicians will try the simple things first, to provide relief of herniated disc symptoms. Back rest is the most important. Anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers, and sometimes injection of special steroid medicines directly into the area of inflammation may be used. Physical therapy can strengthen the back muscles, which helps to stabilize the spine. If relief is not forthcoming, then surgery must be considered. Some patients may only need "bandaid" surgery, wherein a lighted scope is inserted through a small incision directly over the disc, and a portion of the disc is removed with tiny instruments. In those patients where there are bony changes associated with aging, a more aggressive open surgery is needed to remove sufficient parts of the disc to prevent recurrence. In some patients, the disc is removed completely, and means are used to stabilize the bones, called a fusion. A recent development is the artificial disc, which is a spongy, flexible piece of plastic. It is placed exactly where the real disc was removed. Since it also replaces the shock absorbing nature of a good disc, this innovation seems promising.

Herniated Disc Recovery and Complications

On discharge from the hospital, the patient may be asked to wear some sort of back support or brace for several weeks, and to avoid any lifting whatever, until the back heals. In some patients, the herniated disc is removed, but the pain and tingling persists. In others, the initial surgery must be repeated, and a larger amount of the offending disc removed. A very serious medical consequence of a major herniation is called Cauda Equina, in which the disc affects the nerves of the bowel, urinary bladder and the genital organs. In these cases, surgery is a must, and must be done quickly, to avoid permanent damage to those organs. Any delay in diagnosis of nerve injuries risks long-term disability, since prolonged compression of a nerve will often cause irreparable damage.

Contact a Lawyer About Your Herniated Disc Injury

If you have suffered a herniated disc injury as a result of a car accident or negligence of others, Parker Scheer recommends that you consult with a personal injury lawyer and evaluate your case. For your free confidential case review click here and receive a response from one of our attorneys within hours. If you prefer, you can also telephone our offices in Boston seven days a week at toll free 866-414-0400.

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