Josh Myers | September 7, 2022 | Neck Injuries
Accidents can be stressful not only mentally, but also physically. After an accident, it is common to experience physical harm, including injury to your discs.
The most commonly affected discs during an accident are located at C4/C5 and C5/C6. If you’ve sustained injuries to your discs in an accident in Missouri, you may have legal options to recover financial compensation.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
There are several discs that help make up the spine. Spinal discs are soft in the center and tougher around their exterior. When a disc is herniated, some of the jelly-like material in the center comes out through a tear on the exterior.
Symptoms of herniated discs vary, usually depending on the discs affected.
Some of the common symptoms include:
- Pain in the extremities
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Weakness
Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, from the neck to the lower back.
What Causes Herniated Discs?
Herniated discs can occur from aging, as discs experience gradual wear and tear. However, in many cases, individuals experience herniated discs from traumatic incidents, like a car accident.
The force of a crash can cause pressure in your spine, resulting in a herniated disc. Herniated discs are one of the most common types of injuries resulting from car accidents.
In many cases, a herniated disc can go undiscovered for some time. This is part of the reason it’s essential to get a thorough medical examination after a car accident. Your physician can order medical tests to determine the type and severity of injuries you sustained.
Spine Disc Locations
Discs have names, depending on where they’re located in the back. The “C discs” are located in the cervical spine, meaning the neck area. The thoracic spine, or the mid-back region, includes the “T discs.” The lower part of the back, or the lumbar spine, houses the “L discs.”
When you get medical testing to determine whether there has been trauma to your cervical discs, your physician will determine which discs have been affected.
C4/C5 Disc Herniations
The C4/C5 disc is located in the neck area. Trauma to this disc is common after stressful events, like collisions.
This disc can affect the nerves that control the arms and hands. It is particularly common to experience weakness and tingling in the shoulders and arms.
C5/C6 Disc Herniations
The C5/C6 disc is also located in the cervical spine in the neck area. It is lower than the C4/C5 disc. Herniation at C5/C6 affects many nerves, including those controlling the neck, head, and eyes.
When you have herniation between the C5 and C6 vertebrae, it’s common to experience weakness and tingling in the biceps and arms, all the way to the wrist, thumbs, and fingertips.
How Are Herniated Discs Treated?
Disc herniations are treated depending on the location and severity of accompanying symptoms.
Medications are common, including pain medications, neuropathic drugs, and muscle relaxants. Therapy can also help minimize the pain and discomfort associated with herniated discs. In the most severe cases, surgery may be the best option.
Speak With a Personal Injury Attorney If You’ve Suffered a Herniated Disc After an Accident
Accidents, including car accidents and slip and falls, can have life-altering effects on your health and well-being. If you experience disc herniation as a result of an accident, do not hesitate to speak with a personal injury lawyer.
An attorney can determine how to hold the responsible party accountable for their actions and help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Contact Our Neck Injury Law Firm in St. Louis, MO
If you’ve been injured, please contact Schultz & Myers Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:
St. Louis, MO Law Office
1430 Washington Ave Ste 225, St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 444-4444
Ladue, MO Law Office
9807 S 40 Dr, St. Louis, MO 63124
Columbia, MO Law Office
28 N 8th St # 502, Columbia, MO 65201
Creve Coeur, MO Law Office
999 Executive Pkwy Dr #205, Creve Coeur, MO 63141
