Due to the dynamics involved in serious car accidents in Georgia, many of our clients are unfortunately diagnosed with disc herniations.

What is a Disc Herniation?

A cervical or lumbar disc herniation occurs when the disc between the bones of the spine ruptures. The discs are soft and flexible when we are young, but as we age, they become more rigid and can dry out. This means that people over 30 are more vulnerable to disc herniations. When the disc herniates or ruptures, the disc changes shape and position and can pinch or irritate the adjacent nerves. This is even more true in people with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord and nerves.

What are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?

When the adjacent nerves are irritated or pinched, the nerve misfires and can register several different sensations including:

• Numbness and Tingling(Paresthesia)
  One of the more common symptoms is a pins and needles feeling in the dermatome that corresponds to the disc level where the disc is herniated. See the diagram below for an illustration of cervical dermatomes.
  

• Electrical Shock
  Pinching of the nerves can cause a sensation similar to an electric shock which will travel down the corresponding dermatome.  Pressure on the nerves in the neck can lead to shocks in the arms and fingers and compression in the low back can cause the shocks to run down your legs. 
  

• Cauda Equina Syndrome
  If you have a back injury and resulting problems urinating, with bowel movements or have numbness around the genitals, you may have cauda equina syndrome. This is a very serious medical emergency.

• Muscle Weakness

How is a Herniated Disc Diagnosed?

Most often, an emergency room will only x-ray the spine to ensure there are no fractures or other major displacements, but an x-ray cannot detect a herniated disc. If you experience any of the above symptoms, be sure to follow up with an Orthopedic Medical Doctor as suggested by the hospital. If after physical testing, your Doctor determines that you have the symptoms, the Orthopedist may order an MRI, which is a highly sensitive imaging study that makes a detailed picture of this cross section slices of your spine.

Your doctor will go over the MRI findings and your physical test results with you to determine what the best course of care is. There are several surgical options available including Microdiscectomy and Disc Fusion but these are options of last resort. Your Doctor will likely advise that you start with a course of physical therapy. If that fails. the doctor may suggest a series of steroid injections or nerve cauterizations.

If you have been injured in an accident, it is important that you contact a Georgia disc herniation lawyer that understands the intricacies of dealing with disc herniation injuries in Georgia.