Herniations

Back injuries affect hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, causing symptoms that range from the annoying ache of a mild strain to serious spinal trauma that can leave victims paralyzed. A common occurrence involves damage to the discs that cushion the bones of the spine, or vertebrae. There are 31 vertebrae in the spine, and the discs between them that act as shock absorbers are made up of a gel-type material surrounded by an outer shell. When the discs suffer injury, they may bulge or even rupture. This is called herniation.

At Freeman Injury Law, you’ll find Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys who understand the pain and discomfort that interfere with your life when you suffer a herniated disc. Attorney Dean Freeman has a unique grasp of the medical aspects of the cases we handle, having received training as a combat medic Dean is also a member of the Florida nurse’s association. His background, along with our firm’s extensive experience serving accident and injury victims, enable the Palm Beach back injury attorneys at Freeman Injury Law to provide you with confident and aggressive representation.

When an injury harms the outer shell covering a disc, the resulting bulge or inflammation often causes the disc to put pressure on nearby nerve roots or on the spinal cord itself. Pressure on nerves may cause a number of symptoms, depending on the location of the injured disc. A herniated disc in the lower back, or lumbar area, may cause you pain, weakness, tingling, or a feeling of numbness in your leg. Sometimes a problem with a lumbar disc can result in a condition called sciatica, which causes pain that radiates through the buttock and down the back of the leg, perhaps as far as the foot. A bulging or ruptured lumbar disc also may cause low back pain. A particularly serious condition requiring immediate medical treatment can arise from severe compression of the nerve root, causing loss of bladder and bowel control, along with weakness in both legs.

Injury to a disc in the upper back (thoracic vertebrae) or neck (cervical vertebrae) may cause pain, tingling, or numbness that radiates down the arm. Pain or discomfort also may be felt in the chest and shoulder. When you suffer a herniated disc, your doctor will diagnose it by performing a physical examination and asking about your injury and symptoms. The doctor may request a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan to obtain more specific information about your injury.

At Freeman Injury Law, our Palm Beach personal injury attorneys know that herniated discs can happen in motor vehicle crashes – particularly rear-end collisions – and when people are injured in slip-and-fall accidents. Many back injuries happen in the workplace, too. The pain you feel may interfere with your ability to work, and it may disrupt your life in many other ways. Our injury lawyers know insurance companies tend to be skeptical when it comes to back injuries. That’s why you need attorneys who have solid medical knowledge that complements our comprehensive legal know-how.

If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s carelessness or negligence, the Fort Lauderdale herniated disc attorneys at Freeman Injury Law will take decisive action to pursue any compensation for which you’re eligible. We know that diagnostic testing, treatment, and surgery to relieve intense back pain can be expensive. When you’ve suffered a herniated disc through the fault of another, you deserve monetary damages to pay for your medical care and to replace lost wages. Contact our firm and ask for a free consultation. You need to know your rights and understand the options available to you.