Your spine is made of two kinds of “discs,” bone vertebrae discs with cartilage intervertebral discs in between. The vertebrate discs give your spine structure while the invertebrate discs provide flexibility.
After an injury, these discs can slip out of place and protrude outward. However, certain injuries or other conditions can cause the discs to slip from in between the vertebrae and protrude outward, potentially pinching nearby nerves. This condition is certainly uncomfortable and can cause limited movement, but can a herniated disc cause a spinal cord injury?
Inner Workings of a Herniated Disc
A herniated disc has many symptoms in common with other spinal conditions. However, a severe herniated disc can also harm your spinal cord, the organ which transmits information from your brain to the rest of your body. A damaged spinal cord can lead to numbness or even paralysis.
A herniated disc can put pressure on the spinal cord, leading to loss of limb movement. Similar to other spine injuries, the location of the herniated disc determines the severity of the injuries.
The Severity of a Herniated Disc
Numbness and paralysis are usually reserved for the most severe herniated disc injuries. Mild symptoms are much more likely and can impact your ability to perform daily tasks. A few common symptoms of a herniated disc include:
Back pain
Muscle spasms
Sciatica
Muscle weakness
Numbness
Incoordination
Decreased reflexes
Difficulty walking
Treatment options can help you recover from a herniated disc, but it’s often dependent on the severity of the injury. Therapy and nonoperative treatments may be necessary for minor herniated discs. However, surgical treatment may be the best choice for a severe herniated disc.
At Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC, we’re committed to helping you. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers are ready to fight for you. We’ll be the voice you need to seek compensation and obtain justice for an injury caused by another’s negligence.
Contact our firm today at (888) 425-6070 for a free consultation.