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About half of everyone who is involved in a car accident will experience some kind of injury. In many cases, these injuries are not life-threatening but they can severely impact your quality of life. One injury that can commonly cause pain in your back after an accident is a herniated disc.
More commonly known as a slipped disc, a herniated disc is a disc in your spine that has burst. These discs rest between each of your vertebrae and are supposed to cushion the vertebrae from impact and friction. A direct impact or a heavy amount of force on your back can cause the disc to burst. When this happens, the disc’s fluid puts pressure on the nerves in your spine, which is painful and limits your range of motion.
Symptoms of a herniated disc
You may need to visit a health care professional for herniated disc treatment if you notice any of these symptoms:
- Pain and stiffness in your back or neck
- Pain that spreads from your back or neck into your arms or legs
- Numbness and tingling in your spine, arms or legs
- Weakness in your arms or legs
While you should always visit a medical professional for an examination after an accident, it’s especially important if you notice these symptoms. Putting off any treatment can result in the symptoms growing worse and may lead to permanent disability.
Treatment for a herniated disc
Many doctors will try to treat a herniated disc with conservative treatments like medications and chiropractic manipulations. Chiropractic treatment is known to be effective in reducing back pain related to a herniated disc, even if you’ve had the pain for more than a few weeks. However, if the injury is more severe than usual or if it continues to persist, your doctor may recommend orthopedic surgery.
Orthopedic surgeons can remove the damaged portion of a disc and replace it with a new disc or fuse the vertebrae together to provide support for your spine. These procedures can usually be performed with minimally invasive techniques to minimize the risks of infection and blood loss, but, open surgery may still be necessary in some cases.
Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute for herniated disc treatment
Do you have pain in your neck or back after an automobile accident? Our team at the Florida Spine and Joint Institute can examine your spine to see if you have a herniated disc. We can provide chiropractic treatment and orthopedic surgery to help reduce your pain and improve your range of motion. Contact us today to talk to our team about herniated disc treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
