It is said that one in four Americans suffers from back pain on a daily basis. They have learned to accept it as common, but others have been truly debilitated by their pain. Following an accident, were you left with a recurring pain attributed to a herniated disc in your spine? While you might be grateful that you do not have to suffer with paralysis, you suffer nonetheless.
Around each vertebrae is a fluid-filled disc that protects the bones of the spine. When that disc bulges or ruptures, it is said to be “herniated.” It is often caused by accidents that cause a sudden jarring of the spine. When the vertebrae or sac of fluid pushes on nerves, it causes intense pain. Since the spine runs from the base of the skull down to the tailbone, there are a variety of symptoms associated with a herniated disc. Depending on the location of your spinal cord injury, you may experience any of the following:
-
If the herniated disc is in your neck:You may have pain or numbness in your shoulders, arms, or chest
-
If the herniated disc is in your upper back (near your ribs):You may experience pain in your thighs and pelvic area
-
If the herniated disc is in your lower back:You may develop sciatica (a pain that travels through the buttocks and down the leg to the ankle or foot. You may have pain in your lower back and hip region as well.
Regardless of the position of the herniated disc, some common characteristics include:
- Tingling sensation or numbness in legs, arms, buttocks, or foot
- Muscle spasms
- Leg pain in only one leg
- Pain that starts suddenly or increases gradually
- Pain that may be constant or intermittent
- Pain that may worsen to a “shooting” pain with sneezing, coughing, or laughing
- Aggravation of the pain from sitting, standing, bending, or twisting movements
- Pain that can sometimes be relieved by walking, lying down, or other positions that decrease pressure on the damaged disc
Do not allow your spinal cord injury to be minimized and just accepted as common. There are treatments available for herniated discs in Virginia. If your spinal cord injury was caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation to help cover those treatments. Our spinal cord injury lawyers at Shevlin Smith have the knowledge and experience to help you through the recovery process. Call our Fairfax attorneys today at 703-721-4233.