Treating a Herniated Disc

When doctors talk about a herniated disc, they often use words/terms such as protruding disc, slipped disc, and you may even hear it called a pinched disc. All this means is the disc which is like cartilage with a “jelly doughnut filling” in the middle of it, sits between your vertebra, and your spine has come outside of where it usually sits. The disc is soft and spongy and provides a cushion between the vertebral disc that allows you to move, bend and twist. Trauma can cause the discs to bulge outward, tear and rupture, thus causing significant pain and limit mobility. This can cause some serious problems. People suffering from a herniated disc, protruding disc, or slipped disc experience numbness and radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a big word that simply means “pain that radiates.”

Possible symptoms of a herniated disc in your neck are pain that radiates and numbness down your arm, which may be on one side or both. If in your back, the pain may radiate and create numbness in your hip and legs because the disc is pushing against the nerve. Treatment methods for disc injuries are varied and may include physical therapy, medication therapy, to vertebra fusion. Treatment methods are individualized and best determined by an expert doctor’s recommendations.

There are different ways to determine if you have a slipped disc, herniated disc, or protruding disc. Still, obviously, you want to see a specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon. These specialists perform specialized diagnostic testing such as CT (Cat Scan), but preferably an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). An MRI specially details and shows the soft tissues in your body. With an MRI examination, doctors can look at the discs in your spine to determine if you have a slipped, herniated, or protruding disc. So, if you are having symptoms such as numbness, pain, and tingling

Disc injuries are unfortunately all too common in motor vehicle accidents. Motor vehicle accidents create trauma to the body and specifically the spine. While the spine is a very durable body part, it is very susceptible to trauma of this nature.

If you have been involved in an auto accident, seeking medical treatment and evaluation should be your first priority. It is important to pay close attention to your symptoms and pursue medical treatment if they persist. Having your injuries accurately and timely diagnosed and treated assists you in knowing what kind of compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Therefore, I highly recommend that you do not make any hasty decisions regarding settling with an insurance company, whether it is your own car insurance company or the person who hit you. Insurance companies like to settle low and early with you and require a medical release. Still, if you discover in the following weeks after the crash that you do have disc injuries or other complications, you could be paying for that medical treatment out of pocket. I encourage all of my clients to focus on their treatment and negotiate with the insurance company when the time is right.

At The Cagle Law Firm, our clients get to focus 100% on their medical improvement while we handle the claims process, and we negotiate aggressively on their behalf for maximum compensation. As trial lawyers, we know that not every case can or will settle and we are prepared to try a case when needed. For a free, no-obligation consultation, we are available seven days a week to answer your questions and give you the information you need. Whether your accident occurred in Illinois or Missouri, we can help. Call us at (314) 276-1681 today.