Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Blog

Certainly we can all agree that the human body is a sophisticated and complicated machine for which a multitude of problems can arise. Nowhere is this truer than in anything spinal cord and spine related. For the purposes of this blog our focus will on the singular concern of herniated discs.

A 'herniated disc' is the medical term for a bulging disc. It occurs when the nucleus - or inner portion - of the disc pushes against the wall of the disc causing it to protrude without rupturing.

There is a possibility that a herniated disc will heal on its own - left to its own devices (so to speak), and, in fact, this is often the case, as often bulging discs even go undiagnosed.

However, there is the possibility that this medical condition can worsen and the disc can actually rupture. When this occurs a person may well experience pain but even under these circumstances one may not realize the extent of the injury and - again - may stabilize and the pain will subside without treatment!

There are cases, though, of diagnosed chronic disc injuries in which treatment is prescribed.

One of the most common causes of this condition is high-speed auto accident - whether or not whiplash occurs. Whiplash itself is a sprain or strain of the muscles of the neck. But a herniated disc may be an unfortunate side effect if it is predisposed to a hernia at the time of the injury.

The side effects of a bulging disc also include such things as numbness in one's calves, toes or feet. With the variety of primary and secondary medical conditions that can arise from a bulging disc alone it is wise to seek immediate medical attention following a car or truck crash.

It is important to note that x-rays will not show a bulging or herniated disc and just because you are released from the ER does not mean you are OK. If problems following an auto or truck accident persist ask for or demand a MRI, which will diagnose a disc problem.