According to Cleveland Clinic, up to two percent of the general population suffer from a herniated disc every year. This type of injury is a leading cause of leg, back, and neck pain. While disc herniation may occur in any part of the spine, they have been found to be more common in the lumbar spine and may also occur in the cervical spine. A herniated disc is often referred to as a ruptured, bulging, or slipped disc. However, the terms are not used to describe the same condition. In the case of a herniated disc, the nucleus pulposus leaks into the spinal canal from a tear or hole in the disc’s outer covering. A bulging disc, on the other hand, sags and appears to bulge forward. Nonetheless, both conditions are painful and may occur from age-related disc degeneration, motor vehicle collisions, and other causes.

At our personal injury law firm, our lawyers handle bulging disc and herniated disc cases in California. Contact our legal team to receive free, friendly case advice by dialing (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We operate on a contingent fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we win your case.

When you reach out to AutoAccident.com, we will tell you more about our law firm and offer a free case evaluation. Our legal team will review the facts and circumstances of the accident case and your potential options for recovery moving forward. Contact our law office today for more information on how our bulging disc attorneys can help you recover financial compensation for your medical bills, wage loss, and other injury-related damages. Remember that you have limited time to take legal action in California. The evidence necessary for building a strong personal injury case may also disappear or get destroyed over time. The sooner you contact our team of experienced and compassionate accident attorneys, the sooner we can start working on your herniated disc case.

The signs and symptoms of a bulging disc or herniated disc include:

• Pain in the arm, chest, neck, or lower back
• Weakness in the fingers, hand, arm, or leg
• Spasms from the bulging disc and its pressure against the ligament holding the muscle in place

Nerve root compression may distribute and radiate pain. Reduced sensation along the affected nerve root, in addition to tingling and numbness, may also be experienced. More serious cases have reported a feeling of instability or weakness while walking. Patient history and physical examination of a bulging disc in the cervical, lumbar, and thoracic spine are detailed below:

• Cervical Spine: History in patients with a bulging disc in the cervical spine may include the chief complaint, the initial location of pain, and where it radiates. Patient history should also include whether there were any previous treatments. The examiner should pay particular attention to dermatomal and myotome distribution, sensory disturbances, weaknesses, and any sign of dysfunction in the spinal cord. General findings of a herniated disc in the cervical spine from solitary nerve lesions and compression may include pain in the scapula, shoulder, and neck for the C5 nerve. Pain in the forearm, hand, lateral arm, scapula, shoulder, and neck have also been reported in cases involving the C6 nerve. The C7 nerve may involve pain in the middle finger, shoulder, and neck, while pain in the medial forearm, shoulder, and neck has been reported in C8 nerve cases. Pain is common in the forearm, medial arm, and neck in T1 nerve cases.
• Lumbar Spine: An examiner should conduct a thorough neurological exam to localize and determine the level of compression. General findings of a herniated disc in the lumbar spine causing compression and solitary nerve lesion may include sensory loss and pain from the L1 nerve. For L2-L4 nerve cases, it may involve pain in the back that radiates into the medial lower leg and anterior thigh. L5 nerve cases involve back pain that radiates into the dorsum foot, lateral calf, lateral thigh, and buttock. For the S1 nerve, the pain may radiate from the back and into the plantar or lateral foot, posterior calf, posterior or lateral thigh, and buttock. The S2-S4 nerves may involve buttock or sacral pain that radiates into the perineum or the posterior area of the leg.
• Thoracic Spine: Thoracic discogenic pain syndrome (TDPS) often results from intervertebral disc degeneration. The lower region of the thoracic spine is mostly affected by thoracic disc lesions. Approximately 75 percent of such cases occur below the T8 level, with T11 and T12 being the most common. History may include an exclusion diagnosis and atypical symptoms. Most cases are asymptomatic and may be discovered through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In physical exams, patients may experience sensory changes. Severe findings may include paralysis, gait disturbances, and cardiovascular abnormalities.

Non-surgical treatments include physical therapy and prescription NSAIDs as first-line modalities. Most disc herniation cases may resolve a few weeks following the onset of symptoms. Therefore, physical therapy is not recommended until the symptoms have lasted three weeks or longer. The purpose of conservative treatment is to manage disabling pain.

Surgical consultation may be necessary for bulging disc patients who have failed non-surgical management or those with neurological deficits. The second-line treatment modalities include selective nerve root blocks and translaminar epidural injections.

Surgery is the last resort in bulging disc cases. An anterior approach requiring anterior cervical decompression and fusion may be recommended for cervical disc herniation. Conversely, an anterior or lateral approach requiring complete discectomy and fusion may be recommended for a bulging disc in the lumbar spine. A surgeon may also consider an artificial disk replacement as an option.

When an individual is injured in an accident through no fault of their own, they may be entitled to financial compensation. The insurance company representing the other party may offer a settlement, but the reality is that it may be far less than what an injured party needs to put the incident behind them. This is especially true when dealing with injuries such as disc herniation. During a free consultation with an injury lawyer, they can advise an injured party of the potential economic and non-economic damages they may recover, such as:

• Past and future expenses for medical care
• Lost wages and diminished earning potential
• Loss of consortium from an injury, like a bulging disc
• Pain and suffering resulting from accident-related injuries

Depending on the facts and circumstances of the personal injury case, a claimant may be entitled to additional losses. For instance, if an individual suffered disc herniation and other injuries in an accident caused by a driver who was under the influence or excessively speeding, punitive damages may be sought from the at-fault party to punish them for their egregious behavior. For more details, contact an experienced accident attorney in your area.

A bulging disc lawyer can help you seek maximum compensation from a negligent party and their insurance company by:

• Conducting a Thorough Investigation: Your attorney can review video surveillance footage from the area, request traffic incident reports, examine accident scene photos, interview witnesses, and gather other evidence to determine what caused the crash.
• Communicating with the Other Side: Your lawyer can handle all written and verbal communication with the insurance company representing the negligent party and your insurer for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
• Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit if Necessary: If an agreement cannot be reached with the insurance carrier for a reasonable settlement, your attorney will file a lawsuit in civil court on your behalf. This serves to protect the statute of limitations and proceed with taking the case to court.

Navigating the personal injury claims process alone may seem stressful and overwhelming, to say the least. Fortunately, our legal team at AutoAccident.com is here to provide the support and guidance you need during this challenging time. For additional information on how our law firm can help you with your case, watch the video below.

Since 1982, our personal injury law firm has handled a wide array of accident cases, including those that involve herniated discs and bulging discs. When you need free, friendly case advice from a skilled attorney, look no further. Get started today by dialing (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

Photo Credit: “Karolina Grabowska” on Pexels

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