An Overview Of Slipped Disc Injury After An Auto Accident
How it Happens
A slipped disc injury occurs when the spinal column experiences so much stress that one of the spinal discs separates from the backbones to which it is usually attached. If this happens, the out-of-place disc will be pushing against other tissues and nerves, causing intense bark pain. The actual injury can occur in a variety of ways, for example, you may experience a slipped disc if:
- You are thrown out of the car and land on your back
- You hit your back on some part of the car during the accident
- Something inside the car, such as luggage, hits your back during the accident
- Another car hits you around the back area, for example, in a sideswipe accident, and puts extreme stress on your back
As you can see, there are many ways in which a slipped disc injury can occur during a car accident, so it shouldn't be surprising if you are experiencing the injury after a crash.
The Common Symptoms
After an accident, your body will be sore and painful all over, so it may not be easy to tell exactly what specific injuries you are suffering from. However, you should suspect a slipped disc if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Pain and numbness, particularly to one side of the body
- Muscle weakness that cannot be explained any other way
- Pain when making certain body movements, for example, when walking
- Tingling or burning sensations on some part of the body
However, symptoms vary by person; you might not exhibit all of the above symptoms even if you have a slipped disk injury. Therefore, you should get a professional diagnosis from a doctor to determine the nature and extent of your injuries.
The Potential Complications
Don't forget that a slipped disc can give rise to one major complication: nerve damage.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage is one of the most common complications of slipped disc injury because the out-of-place disc pushes against the nerves in your spinal column. If you don't get proper treatment, you may experience loss of feeling in some parts of your body, such as the legs. You may also experience loss of control of some body functions, such as bowel movements.
Degenerative Disc Disease
This is when the affected spinal segment deteriorates, particularly on the edges of the affected disc. The degeneration may cause permanent damage to your spinal column, if not taken care of properly. It may also cause you constant back pain, and back pain can affect all aspects of your daily life.
If your suspect that you have suffered a slipped disc injury after an auto accident or at any other time, visit 75th St Injury & Illness Center or a similar walk-in clinic.