Common Truck Wreck Injuries: Herniated Discs

There are many injuries that can result from an accident involving a semi-truck or other commercial motor vehicles, like flatbed trucks or dump trucks. Due to the large size of trucks and the force of impact when in a truck accident, the injuries that result are often catastrophic or life-altering.

One of the more common injuries that can result from a truck accident is herniated discs. There are small discs made of a jelly-like substance that sit between each of the 26 vertebrae in the spine, acting as cushions to absorb shock and impact. A disc can become herniated when the outer wall of a disc breaks down or is torn, and all or part of the soft inner core is forced through a weak portion of the spinal canal, usually caused by some kind of impact, like a truck accident.

Herniated discs most commonly affect the lower back, but they can happen anywhere along the spine. This can make mobility difficult if untreated.

Symptoms of Herniated Discs

After a wreck, whether it involves another passenger vehicle or a semi-truck, it is common to not experience immediate pain that requires an emergency room trip. For herniated discs, it is possible to have no symptoms at first because the disc may not be pressing on a nerve. But injuries like herniated discs can cause issues later. As the injury is exacerbated, the disc can begin to press on a nerve, causing symptoms months after the initial injury.

One common sign is sharp pain in the back or neck, or the onset of subtle pain that increases and radiates with movement, which can indicate that the disc is pressing against a nearby nerve. While pain from herniated discs can sometimes resolve on its own over the course of weeks or months, the symptoms often persist.

Some other symptoms can include:

• Pain that is felt on one side of the body
• Sharp pain in a single part of the leg, hip, or buttocks and numbness in other parts, with potential for that leg to also feel weak. This radiating pain can indicate that the affected disc is located in the lumbar spine.
• Pain when moving the neck or deeper pain around the shoulder blade that may move to the upper arm, forearms and fingers, as well as numbness in the same areas. Experiencing pain in these areas is indicative of a herniated disc in the cervical spine.

Pain from a herniated disc may feel worse after standing or sitting for extended periods; when sneezing, coughing, or laughing; while bending backward or walking further than a few yards; or at night in general.

Steps Taken to Diagnose Herniated Discs

To diagnose herniated disc disorders, a doctor will typically conduct a physical exam and review medical history to start. Patients will likely undergo an examination of the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands if the pain is in the upper extremities, and lower back, hips, legs, and feet if pain is in the lower extremities. This may include gentle manipulation of the arms and legs in different extended positions.

The doctor will primarily look for numbness or loss of feeling, muscle reflexes to see if they are slow or lacking, muscle strength to check for muscle weakness, and posture or the way the spine curves. They may also ask a patient to sit, stand, walk, and bend their body in several directions to determine what causes pain or mobility issues, as well as assessing if the injury has affected balance and mobility.

Depending on the results of a physical examination, the doctor may choose to proceed with other diagnostic tests, such as the following:

• X-ray: This allows the doctor to look at the vertebrae surrounding the herniated disc. If a disc has slipped out of place, the space between vertebrae can become unstable or shrink due to lack of cushion from the disc.
• MRI Scan: This creates a closer view of the vertebrae, discs, and surrounding soft tissues like the spinal cord and nerves.
• Electromyogram: If the pain from a herniated disc is radiating or causing tingling, numbness, or weakness, this exam can reveal if nerves have been pinched from the disc. This test measures the electrical impulses transmitted along muscle tissue, nerves, and nerve roots, which can help determine if the pain or weakness is coming from the muscles or the nerves. If pain is coming from the nerves, then the disc may be compressing a nerve or part of the spinal cord.
• CT scan: This is a series of X-rays that show the spine in greater detail than a single X-ray could. A CT scan is most commonly used if the patient has a previous spinal injury or surgery, or if a doctor thinks the herniated disc is caused by degenerative disc disease.

All these tests can provide the doctor with more information on the condition of nerves, discs, and vertebrae.

A doctor may also recommend a neurological evaluation to decide if nerve damage is contributing to the symptoms. The nerves travel through the body, which affects the muscles in predictable patterns. Finding abnormal physical responses can help determine which correlating nerves are affected.

Once the herniated disc has been properly diagnosed, the doctor may advise physical therapy, pain relievers or muscle relaxers, or surgery if necessary. There are several minimally invasive surgical options, including the following:

• Artificial disc replacement: This type of surgery is typically performed on the cervical spine. The surgeon locates the disc and removes it to decompress the affected nerve. The disc is replaced by a synthetic substitute to preserve motion.
• Microdiscectomy: The goal of this surgery is to remove the bulged portion of the herniated disc to relieve any pressure on the affected nerve.
• Minimally invasive fusion: A fusion surgery fuses vertebrae together using screws to eliminate any motion between them, thus reducing spinal pressure, pain, and nerve damage.

Herniated discs are a very common cause of back pain and disability across the United States, affecting around 1 to 3% of the population. And if surgery is required, treatment can become expensive. That is why it is important not only to seek treatment immediately after a truck wreck, but also to reach out to a board-certified truck accident attorney. They can point you toward medical professionals that will take care of you, as well as pursue the full value of your case.

How a Wreck Can Cause Herniated Discs

Each spinal disc acts as a cushion for the vertebrae above and below it. The jelly-like tissue inside the discs helps to absorb shock and quick movement. A car or truck wreck typically generates rapid force and movement, which can cause the disc to tear or slip out of its original position. This disc then creates pain because the jelly-like substance of the spinal disc pushes through a tear in the outer layer, which bulges out of place.

The spine is surrounded with a complex system of nerves, so when the body shifts, the disc puts pressure on the nearby nerves. That pressure pinches the nerves, resulting in painful movement.

When two vehicles collide with each other, the force of that collision can cause the spine to bend or twist in unnatural ways. Rear-end collisions are commonly associated with herniated discs. When one vehicle hits another in front of it with intense force, especially if one or both are semi-trucks, that impact may force either driver to move suddenly.  As a result, pressure is put on the discs in the spine, leading to tears or rupturing, resulting in herniated discs.

These injuries can cause back problems and reinjury in the future. That is why it is vital to see a doctor to identify and manage any injuries immediately after a wreck, regardless of whether pain is present just after an accident.

Have You Sustained a Back Injury from a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help

Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. Both attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless are board-certified in truck accident law by the NBTA, accredited by the American Bar Association. The firm also has a rapid response team—including investigators, reconstructionists and mechanics—that is sent to the scene of a wreck to collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired.

Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.

Reach out for a free case consultation today at (800) 746-0226 or online.

 

David W. Craig is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, accredited by the American Bar Association in Truck Accident Law. He sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.