Four Signs You Herniated A Disc During Your Accident -- And How To Proceed
Posted on: 20 March 2018
Back and neck pain following a car accident are very common. In some cases, this discomfort may be caused by muscle pain or a muscle strain, and it will then subside after a few days or a week. In other cases, however, the back or neck pain has a more sinister cause: a herniated disk. Here's a look at four signs you may have a herniated disk post accident -- along with some advice for dealing with this problem.
Signs You Have a Herniated Disk
In addition to ongoing back or neck pain, the following are symptoms of a herniated disk.
Tingling or Numbness
Depending on the location of the herniated disk, you may experience some tingling or numbness in your arms, legs, neck, or even abdomen. This numbness may be worse at night after you have spent the day moving around and irritating the injured disk.
Headaches
Herniated disks in the cervical -- or neck -- region of the back often cause headaches. You may also have a headache when you have a lower herniated disk since it will affect the way you carry yourself and hold your head.
Stiffness
Herniated disks do not just cause pain -- they also make you feel stiff and unable to bend. You may have trouble bending down to pick something up off the ground or reaching around to your side.
What Should You Do If You Have a Herniated Disk?
Thankfully, most herniated disks heal with care and treatment. Surgery is only required in rare cases. There are three main things you should do if you suspect you have a herniated disk after an accident.
See a Doctor
There are other problems, like pinched nerves, that can cause similar symptoms to herniated disks. So, you need to see a doctor for a concrete diagnosis. He or she may palpate and x-ray your back to rule out other issues and determine which disk is herniated.
Follow Your Doctor's Treatment Orders
The secret to recovering from a herniated disk is the right combination of rest and specific exercise. Your doctor will probably send you to a physical therapist for care. Follow your doctor's recommendations when it comes to treatment, and do your physical therapy exercises diligently.
See a Lawyer
Schedule a meeting with a personal injury attorney in your area. A herniated disk can be costly to treat since it takes a while to heal, and there is a good chance your car insurance policy won't cover all of the costs. Your lawyer can help you sue the other driver or insurance company if needed.
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