Herniated disks can be extremely painful and require surgery. Unfortunately, this is quite a common spinal injury associated with car, truck and motorcycle accidents. Our Georgia injury lawyers are often asked what is the recovery time for a herniated disk injury after a car accident.
There is no hard and fast answer to this question. Usually, the recovery process takes several months. However, everyone is different and heals at a different rate. Some accident victims may experience long-lasting symptoms.
Factors that impact your recovery include the severity of the injury and your overall age, health, fitness level, weight and whether you smoke.
People who suffer a herniated disk injury after a car accident are often unfamiliar with the injury. A herniated disk is an issue with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) between the vertebrae bones that make your spine.
A spinal disk is often compared to a jelly donut. The softer center is encased within a tougher exterior. A herniated disc is also described as a slipped disk or a ruptured disk. The condition is not the same as a bulging disk. A herniated disk occurs when some of the softer “jelly” pushes out through a tear in the harder exterior.
The herniated disk often pushes on and irritates nearby nerves. This results in serious radiating pain and can result in numbness or weakness in a leg or an arm. Although a herniated disk can cause significant pain, the condition may also cause few symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most people who have a herniated disk don’t need surgery to correct the problem. Factors like aging, bad posture, and obesity can cause herniated disks. The condition is also common in car wrecks.
A herniated disk after a car accident can be serious. The force of a car accident can put immense pressure on your spine. While the disks between vertebrae need to be resilient to protect your spine and allow it to move at the same time, the extreme forces unleashed in an auto wreck can cause these disks to move out of place or even to tear.
A car crash can also cause a bulging disk. This condition occurs when the disk’s tough outer layer of cartilage bulges from between the vertebrae. The softer “jelly” inside the disk does not escape.
The recovery time from a herniated disk injury after a car accident is a factor in a lawsuit against the driver who caused your injury or a business if your injury was caused in slip-and-fall.
If your herniated disk injury results in surgery and other complications, the recovery may be longer. You will likely undergo physical therapy and other treatment and miss time off work. Herniated disk injuries can result in six-figure payouts or more if accompanied by other conditions.
If you are suffering radiating pain after a car accident, you should consult your medical provider as soon as possible. You should also talk to a Georgia personal injury lawyer. Please contact the Law Office of Michael West at (404) 913-1529.