Herniated Discs/ Broken Bones Attorneys
Herniated Disc
The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small, spongy discs. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. But when a disc is damaged, it may bulge or break open. This is called a herniated disc. It may also be called a slipped or ruptured disc. Herniated discs can occur in the neck or back.
The symptoms of herniated disc are pain, numbness, and weakness in the area of the body where the nerve travels. The herniated disc can cause radiculopathy, which is when the numbness and pain radiates into different parts of the body, such as the arms and legs.
Herniated discs can be diagnosed through a doctor’s examination and through medical test, such as MRI and CAT scan.
Initially, treatment of herniated discs in the neck or back is conservative. This conservative treatment can include physical therapy, steroid injections, massage and pain medication. However, if conservative treatment is unsuccessful in alleviating the pain, surgery may be performed to resolve pain complaints and allow the patient to recover.
The causes of herniated disc include wear and tear of the disc and thus a degeneration of the disc itself. However, a traumatic event, such as an automobile accident, slip and fall, or work accident can cause the disc herniation. If such a traumatic event was the cause of the herniation, and if negligence did in fact occur, then it may be possible to recover against the party that caused the herniation.
Broken Bones
A broken bone is a break or fracture of the continuity of the bone itself. There are various types of broken or fracture bones, including a closed (simple) fracture and an open (compound) fracture. A closed fracture is when the skin remains intact, while open fractures involve a wound caused by a fractured bone that punctures the surrounding skin.
Other considerations in fracture care are displacement (fracture gap) and angulation. If angulation or displacement is large, reduction (manipulation) of the bone may be required. In adults, this can often means surgical care. These injuries may take longer to heal than injuries without displacement or angulation.
Other types of fracture include:
- Compression fracture – A fracture in which bone fragments separate completely.
- Incomplete fracture – A fracture in which the bone fragments are still partially joined.
- Linear fracture – A fracture that is parallel to the bone’s long axis.
- Transverse fracture – A fracture that is at a right angle to the bone’s long axis.
- Compacted fracture – A fracture caused when bone fragments are driven into each other.
Some fractures are non-displaced and can heal on their own without the need for surgery. Often a case or splint is enough to stabilize the injury and allow the bone to heal. Sometimes, though, surgical intervention by a doctor is required. In such cases, it is important that the patient seeks care from a board certified orthopedic surgeon and follows the treatment plan set by his or her doctor.