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Posted on 5/18/2012Morrisville Car Accident Claims Life of 1, Injures 2
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Do disc herniations repair themselves?

A: Many injured people suffer disc herniations (otherwise known as disc protrusions) after auto accidents in the Philadelphia area. In our law firm's our personal injury experience, disc herniations rarely, if ever repair themselves. A disc herniation is an injury to a spinal disc.

Spinal discs act as shock absorbers of the spine and protect the vertebrae (spinal bones) and the spinal cord. Discs are made up of a strong outer section called the annulus and a softer middle section called the nucleus. When spinal discs are compacted by the vertebrae in a traumatic event such as an auto accident, the disc becomes damaged as the nucleus (softer inner part of the spinal disc) pushes or is forced through the annulus (stronger outer portion of the spinal disc).

Once a disc herniates or ruptures, the inner (nucleus) portion of the disc extends out of the normal disc shape. The herniated part of the disc oftentimes presses on the spinal cord or the nerve endings exiting the spinal cord causing pain, nerve damage, numbness and tingling feelings, etc.

Because spinal discs do not repair themselves, there are treatments for herniated discs such as chiropractic therapy and physical therapy which attempt to take the pressure caused by the herniated disc off the spinal cord or nerve ending. Pain management treatment treats the pain associated with herniated discs with medicine. The other form of treatment to fix a herniated disc is spinal surgery. Spinal surgery such as a discectomy removes the entire spinal disc or just the herniated part of the disc.

There have been a few cases where a herniated disc does not appear to be herniated on a second or subsequent MRI test. Usually these types of findings are inconclusive because the situation may have been caused by an issue with the visualization of the herniated disc on the MRI test or other factors.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a herniated disc from a car accident or truck accident in Bucks County, PA, Mercer County, NJ, or Philadelphia, learn more about recovering from a herniated disc by downloading a FREE copy of our Injury Guidebook. The Bucks County injury lawyers at Saile & Saile LLP have substantial experience representing injured persons suffering from herniated discs.