Back Misery: Herniated Disks And Money Damages
When you think about it, any injury to your back area can cause you to feel it in every part of your body. After all, your back acts as a support to your upper body, and the nerves that affect your arms and legs are interwoven throughout your back area. Serious injuries can occur to the back through car accidents and slip and fall accidents. Read on to learn more about a particular type of back injury and how to make sure that you get compensated for it.
Your disk gets herniated
Even a relatively minor car wreck or fall can damage the disks in your back. Your back contains a strong vertical column of bone called the spinal column. Inside this column are disks that separate your vertebrae, and which act as cushioning while you move, twist and bend. Any damage to these disks can cause pain and misery that can prevent any movement without agony. When a disk moves a bit, it is said to be 'slipped". With a greater impact, that same disk can rupture. A ruptured disk is also known as a herniated disk.
What you feel
In rare cases, you may not feel much pain from a herniated disk, but in most cases the pain can be overwhelming. Depending on how badly your disks are injured, the damage may extend to the nerves surrounding your spinal cord. When this happens, the pain, tingling and numbness can be life-altering and debilitating. Even a sudden sneeze can impart searing pain when you have a herniated disk. For some, walking becomes more difficult and you may have trouble grasping objects in your hands or carrying things.
How herniated disks are treated
For mild cases, bed rest can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Since the pain and discomfort is primarily caused by inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs are used along with several days of bed rest in the hopes of calming the irritation enough to allow you to return to normal activities. Opioid pain relievers may be necessary to get the relief you need, and your doctor may also suggest physical therapy, massage, electrical stimulation and more. Often, however, the disks are so damaged and cause so much pain that surgery is called for. Bad disks are removed and replaced using spinal fusion, where wires, screws and new disks are implanted.
Your money damages
This type of injury can cause untold suffering and very high medical costs. While it's not possible to make the pain go away with money, it may help you and your family to recover from the accident financially. Talk to a personal injury attorney, like one from Loughlin Fitzgerald P C, about your back injury today.