Can injury cause herniated disc?

Can injury cause herniated disc?

A single excessive strain or injury may cause a herniated disc. However, disc material degenerates naturally as one ages, and the ligaments that hold it in place begin to weaken. As this degeneration progresses, a relatively minor strain or twisting movement can cause a disc to rupture.

What is a central disc herniation?

A herniated disk occurs when a portion of the nucleus pushes through a crack in the annulus. Symptoms may occur if the herniation compresses a nerve. A herniated disk refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions (disks) that sit between the individual bones (vertebrae) that stack to make your spine.

Can fall cause disc prolapse?

Yes, a slip and fall accident can cause a bulging disc in your spine. In fact, a bulging or herniated disc is a common slip and fall injury. A series of individual vertebrae make up your spinal column. Between each one of these vertebrae is a spinal disc.

What is the most common disc herniation?

Disc herniation can occur in any disc in the spine, but the two most common forms are lumbar disc herniation and cervical disc herniation. The former is the most common, causing low back pain (lumbago) and often leg pain as well, in which case it is commonly referred to as sciatica.

Does a herniated disc happen suddenly?

The prolapsed disc or ruptured disc material can enter the spinal canal, squashing the spinal cord, but more frequently the spinal nerves. Herniated discs rarely occur in children, and are most common in young and middle-aged adults. A herniation may develop suddenly, or gradually over weeks or months.

Can trauma cause a bulging disc?

A bulging disc or slipped disc is a common spinal column injury in the intervertebral disc due to neck/ back trauma or age related injury. It can occur in your lumbar spine (lower back), thoracic spine (upper and mid-back) or your cervical spine (neck).

Is a central disc protrusion serious?

Many cases of protruding discs heal naturally with rest and conservative measures. However, disc protrusions that continue to degenerate and press on the spinal cord or nerve roots cause significant pain, weakness, numbness and loss of movement that may require surgery to treat.

How do you treat a central disc protrusion?

Physical therapy, exercise and gentle stretching to help relieve pressure on the nerve root. Ice and heat therapy for pain relief. Manipulation (such as chiropractic manipulation) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or COX-2 inhibitors for pain relief.

Can a fall make a herniated disc worse?

You can aggravate (worsen) a bulging disc if you fall down.

Can a herniated disc cause permanent nerve damage?

A severe case of a bulging disc can cut off nerve impulses, even causing permanent nerve damage. Additionally, you may experience sharp paints, incontinence, bowel movement irregularity, or even partial paralysis as the issue worsens.

Is a herniated disc a permanent injury?

Disc herniations are permanent injuries that require a substantial settlement value, due to the seriousness of the injury. That being said, coming up with a case evaluation is difficult. No one knows what a jury would do with a herniated disc case.

Can a herniated disc be caused by a car accident?

These insurance company doctors often say that symptoms appear very quickly if there is a disc herniation that was caused by a car accident . Or caused by any type of accident. Therefore, insurance company doctors will say that your herniated disc wasn’t caused by the accident if you didn’t have pain shortly after the accident.

Can a herniated disc cause severe back pain?

The spinal canal has limited space, which is inadequate for the spinal nerve and the displaced herniated disc fragment. Due to this displacement, the disc presses on spinal nerves, often producing pain, which may be severe. Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine.

Can a herniated disc in the thoracic spine cause paralysis?

When a herniated disc occurs in the thoracic spine it can be extremely serious. In some cases, the first sign of the herniated disc is paralysis below the waist. Luckily, herniated discs in the thoracic area are not nearly as common as in the lumbar spine.

When is a herniated disc most likely to rupture?

Usually a true herniated nucleus pulposus is most common in young and middle-aged adults. In older folks, the degenerative changes that occur in the spine with aging actually make it less likely they will suffer a true herniated disc. Discs can rupture suddenly because of too much pressure all at once on a disc.