Common Disc Injuries with Motor Vehicle Accidents

Common Disc Injuries with Motor Vehicle Accidents

If you find yourself involved in a motor vehicle accident, there can be many different injuries that occur.  We frequently have patients present with pain in the back that may radiate to different areas of the body.  These injury types often involve spinal discs.  Spinal discs are the soft cushion portions of the spine.  They help as the shock absorbers of the spine during different activities.  They help keep the vertebrae separated and are part of a mechanism that allows enough space for the spinal nerves to reach the organs, muscles and tissues of the body.  The discs may be affected by injuries or may be a resultant of aging.  There are times when different types of disc injuries are used interchangeably but they are all a major problem if experienced in a motor vehicle accident.  Disc injuries will lead to sleep loss, mobility dysfunction, inability to work, weakness, numbness, tingling, organ involvement and pain.   The symptoms may be different, but they can all be a sign of an injured disc.  What are some typical types of disc injuries?

A common type of disc injury is a herniated disc.  This can sometimes be referred to as a ruptured or slipped disc.  The soft material within the disc has found its way through a possible tear and made its way outside its protective layers.  A herniated disc can be classified differently depending on what the disc material does.  A protrusion is a herniated disc where the material is sticking out like an eraser on a pencil.  If the disc material leaks out and looks like a pouch with a narrow stalk, it is referred to as an extrusion.  Both can be very painful and should be examined by a health care professional.

Bulging discs are another disc injury that can occur due to injury or from deterioration.  The disc material in this case has been compressed and evenly bulges out on the sides without damage to the outer shell of the disc.  This can occur as a consequence of aging, but happens with all levels of severity.  The disc will lose its water content through the aging process and become more prone to injury with one slip or fall.

Luckily there are different treatment modalities to help with disc problems.  They include exercises, stretches, braces, chiropractic care, anti-inflammatories, injections, traction and as a last resort surgery.  If you have experienced a disc injury in a motor vehicle accident, we perform therapy and other conservative treatments. Our medical doctors make a full assessment of the appropriate care for each patient.

If you have recently been involved in a motor vehicle accident and are concerned about a possible disc injury, Chambers Medical Group can help you get back to where you need to be.

 This article is written by Aaron Workman, DC, one of the members of Chambers Medical Group’s team of car accident chiropractors who offer a variety of treatments and therapies ranging from diagnostic testing to various soft tissue therapies for car accidents and injuries in Kentucky.

Have you been in a car accident? If you or somebody you know has been in a car accident, be sure that you seek medical attention from a car accident doctor or car accident chiropractor to treat your injuries. Visit Chambers Medical Group  to receive world-class medical treatment for your injuries.

Chambers Medical Group has car accident medical clinics in the following locations:

• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Tampa
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Plant City
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Brandon
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lakeland
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Sarasota
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Louisville
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Lexington
• Car Accident Medical Clinic in Florence