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If you’re like most people, you don’t walk around thinking about the structure of your spine — until you have a back injury. Your back and neck can withstand some wear and tear, but in many cases, they’re no match for the sheer force of a car crash. Car accidents can cause many types of back injuries, but some of the most common and most difficult to treat are herniated discs. Here’s what you need to know.
You may already know that your vertebrae (the individual bones that make up your backbone) are cushioned with tough, circular discs made of cartilage. The structure of each disc is like that of a jelly donut; the cartilage shell has a gel-like collagen interior. If the cartilage shell tears, the collagen interior leaks out, and this is called herniation. When a disc becomes herniated, the extruding center can put pressure on spinal nerve roots, and that causes pain further down in the nerves. For example, the nerves that go down your legs are rooted in your lower back, so if you have a herniated disc in this area, you might have radiating leg pain. Herniated discs can cause debilitating pain, and the degree of herniation doesn’t necessarily correspond to the level of pain. It’s possible to have a severely painful case that looks minimal on an MRI, and similarly, some herniations look severe but cause little to no discomfort.
Any disc can be herniated in a car accident, though some are more commonly affected. Because sudden impacts exert abrupt and severe force on the neck, the two discs most frequently herniated in car accidents are those at C4-C5 and C5-C6. The “C” stands for “cervical” because the neck is part of your cervical spine, and the numbers correspond to specific vertebrae. The first vertebra beneath your skull is C1, the next one down is C2, and so on. When you see a disc labeled “C4-C5,” that means it’s the disc located between the fourth and fifth vertebrae down from your skull. Even though C4-C5 and C5-C6 are neighboring discs, herniations in each one can cause very different symptoms.
If you have a herniated disc at C4-C5, you’ll likely feel weakness, pain, or both in your shoulders. However, you are less likely to experience sensations of tingling or numbness.
A herniation at C5-C6 will usually cause a wider array of symptoms, such as:
Of course, it’s possible to herniate both C4-C5 and C5-C6. Consider also that herniations often aren’t the first injuries detected after an accident. To conclusively diagnose this condition, your doctor will need to perform an MRI, and emergency rooms will generally take X-rays before ordering other imaging.
If you’ve already suffered a herniated disc, you know how much this injury can impact your life. Some cases respond to more conservative treatment, like physical therapy and steroid injections, but others will require surgery. Ultimately, while herniated discs can be painful and expensive and can take time to treat, there’s a good chance that you can experience a significant reduction in symptoms — or even eliminate them entirely. When you work with a competent doctor and follow their treatment guidelines, you’ll be that much closer to restoring your health.
If you’ve been injured in Seattle, WA, and need legal assistance, contact Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Contact our legal team and schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer today. We proudly serve King County in Washington and it’s surrounding areas. Visit our law office at:
Davis Law Group Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers 2101 4th Ave 1030 Seattle, WA 98121 (206) 727 4000 Hours: Open 24/7
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