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Herniated Disk
Herniated disks are extremely painful, and although they are most likely to affect people in their 30s and 40s, anyone can suffer from one. They cause pain that radiates through almost every part of the body, not just the back. They can cause muscle spasms, numbness in arms, legs, and fingers, and inflammation that is extremely sensitive to the touch.
Herniated disks also typically occur in the lower back, but they can happen as high in the spinal column as the neck. Those that occur in the lower back cause extreme pain and numbness even all the way down to the knees, and those that occur in the neck cause pain and limited mobility in the shoulders, arms, neck and upper torso.
So how do these painful injuries happen? The most likely culprit is heavy lifting and straining of the spine, or sudden twists or turning movements. They are also caused by slips and falls, car accidents, and anything that causes a heavy blow to the back.
Herniated disks are also known as:
- Slipped disks
- Bulging disks
- Compressed disks
- Ruptured disks
- Collapsed disks
So what is a disk, exactly? Disks are cushions that protect each of the 26 bones called the vertebrae. A herniated disk is when the disk slips out of place, is crushed, or is ruptured.
Treatments often involve rest, medicines that reduce the pain and inflammation, and physical therapy. In the worst cases, people with herniated disks have to undergo surgery. Medical expenses and lost wages can cause financial distress in many people who suffer from herniated disks. The majority of those people contact personal injury attorneys, who help them get their medical costs and other losses covered.
