A look at whiplash and herniated discs

Whiplash personal injuries which take place when the head is thrown backwards and forwards in a road traffic accident and affects the structure of the neck.

Amongst the various symptoms of a whiplash injury, including neck and back pain, cervicogenic headaches, head/jaw problems including mouth ache, damage to the intervetebral joints, ligaments and discs (herniated discs) also occur.

During a whiplash injury, the sudden backwards movement (called extension) and the forwards movement (called flexion) injures the neck joints and stretches the neck and upper back beyond their normal limits.

When a whiplash personal injury condition lasts longer than two months, it may indicate a more serious personal injury involving facet joints and/or discs. Surgery is not usually advised and is only recommended for herniated discs that can't be adequately dealt with through other forms of treatment.

What is a herniated disc exactly?
Herniation of the nucleus pulposus (HNP) takes place when the nucleus pulposus (gel-like substance) breaks through the anulous fibrosus (tire-like structure) of an intervetebral disc (spinal shock absorber). The disc literally looks like it is leaking.

A herniated disc more frequently takes place in the lumbar (lower) area of the spine especially at L4-L5 and L5-S1 (L for lumbar and S for sacral; the number indicates the position of the vertebrae in the spinal column).

This is because the lumbar spine carries much of the body's weight. From the age of 30 onwards, people become more vulnerable as elasticity and water content of the nucleus decreases with age.

An HNP progresses in severity and there are four main stages:

1) disc degeneration and protrusion

2) prolapsed disc

3) disc extrusion (the disc looks like it has a hole in the side and has been ripped) and

4) a sequestered disc. Stages 3 and 4 are described as complete herniations.

The condition can result in motor and sensory deficiencies caused by nerve compression preventing proper nerve transmission. Limbs affected by a herniated disc are connected to the part of the vertebrae and the limb the injured disc serves.

Treatment for herniated discs
Herniated discs are usually treated with rest, restricted mobility and medication for inflammation and pain. Physical therapy like massage may be recommended, along with a back brace if the spine is particularly weak.

Most patients recover without surgery, but in extremely serious cases, surgery might be suggested. In this case, a discectomy (a surgical removal of part or the entire offending intervetebral disc) or a microdiscectomy (using a microscope to magnify the surgical field during disc removal) can take place.

Whiplash compensation
A herniated disc can stop you moving and leave you bed-ridden. Although most whiplash injuries are connected to the neck and head area; a disc that is not functioning properly affects the whole spine.

The spine is connected to the nervous system and transmission of nerve impulses throughout the body. It therefore makes sense that anything affecting the back will have implications for other parts of the body too, including your limbs.

You may feel a little frustrated if your body is not functioning properly because you have experienced a car crash, especially if it was somebody else's fault, and may want to seek car accident claim compensation.

Car Accident Advice Line can give you free legal advice from an expert panel of personal injury solicitors who specialise in car accident claims. They will deal with your questions sympathetically and give you clear car accident compensation claim guidelines in language you can understand.

You won't be charged a penny at any time and you can also keep 100 % of any compensation awarded. That's right, it's completely free to make an accident claim with us.

With an excellent success rate, you stand a very fantastic chance of seeing your no win, no fee whiplash claim brought to a successful conclusion. So why not find out how we can help you, by filling in the online form to request a call back or dialling direct now on 0808 143 43 42.