When involved in a car accident, there are many injuries that you could possibly sustain.
One common injury associated with car accidents is disc herniation. This is because the discs absorb the majority of the impact on the spine. But what exactly is disc herniation and what are the symptoms?
A spinal disk has a tough exterior filled with a soft center. When the soft center pushes through the touch exterior, the disk is said to be herniated, ruptured or slipped. When this happens, the surrounding nerves become irritated. While some people may not experience any symptoms at all, a herniated disc typically results in pain, weakness or numbness in the arm or leg.
If the herniated disk is in the lower back, the pain may be felt primarily in the thigh, calf or buttocks. In some cases, the pain may even be felt in the foot. If the herniated disk is in the neck, the pain will likely be felt in the shoulder and arm. The pain may shoot through the arm or leg whenever you sneeze, cough or otherwise move your spine into certain positions.
While surgery may not be necessary to repair a herniated disk, you should seek medical help if you are experiencing tingling, numbness, weakness or pain in your neck or back that travels down your leg or arm. Failure to treat the problem can lead to worsening symptoms, bladder or bowel dysfunction and loss of sensation in the affected areas. To learn more about recovering from car accidents, contact Advanced Spine & Rehab today!