Lower Spinal Disc Herniations

Among the most important bones in the body is the spinal cord – also known as the backbone. As a Washington personal injury attorney, I have seen the damage that can be caused to the back and spine in a serious car accident. Very rarely can a passenger involved in a collision walk away from the wreckage without having sustained some sort of injury. Washington drivers need to always be aware of the unfavorable toll that an accident can have on the body, and more specifically, the spinal cord.

There is a lot of innovative technology being installed in automobiles intended to protect the passengers from harm. In every car accident, however, there is always a substantial amount of force that can cause injuries to the back and spine. One of these severe injuries is a herniated disk in the spinal canal. A herniated disk occurs when one of the shock absorbing pads in the spine, otherwise known as a disk, is split or ruptured. The disk may then fall out of place or protrude against sensitive nerve tissue, which leads to irritation and discomfort. This injury, commonly called a “slipped disk”, commonly occurs in the lower back of high impact car accidents, as the force from the accident knocks the disk out of place.

Pain, tingling or numbness is experienced in the lower back, legs or buttocks as a result of a “slipped disk”. The severity of the herniated disk will determine the amount of pain and discomfort. In order to relieve the pain from this sort of an injury, one should apply ice packs, hot packs and undergo massage therapy. Most people with a herniated disk do not require surgery because the symptoms get better over time, however, in few extreme cases, surgery may be required to relieve pain and restore mobility to the lower back. The recovery time for most injuries, without surgery, ranges from one to six months.

Herniated disks and other serious injuries can be debilitating and very painful. If you have suffered an injury such as this in a Seattle car accident, motorcycle accident or other severe accident click on the proceeding link to order your free copies of the legal resource guides: The Truth About Washington Auto Accidents, and The Truth About Washington Motorcycle Accidents. These useful books are provided as a service from Straight Talk Law and can help you figure out how to handle your case and decide whether or not you need a lawyer.