Bone degeneration is part of the natural aging process for many of us, but accidents like car crashes, slips, and falls can expedite this process. If you’ve ever had a herniated disc, you know that the pain can be both excruciating and debilitating. After a sudden accident that causes trauma to the spine, the pain is often immediate, resulting in expensive medical bills, lost days of work, and other costly inconveniences.
In some cases, disc degeneration caused by an accident results in chronic pain and the need for ongoing medical attention. If someone else was at fault for the injuries you suffered in an accident, a New York personal injury attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates can help you determine whether you have a case. Call 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free consultation.
What is Intervertebral Disc Degeneration?
Degenerative disc disease is a common cause of back pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, in the United States, approximately 20 percent of adults have some form of disc degeneration by the time they are 65, and 35 percent experience it by the time they reach the age of 80.
The spine is made up of 26 vertebrae which are cushioned by gel-like discs. Discs absorb shock, allow the spine to move flexibly, and protect vertebrae from grinding against each other. As we age, these liquid-filled discs dry out, which can result in pain, stiffness, and a lack of flexibility. For many people, the condition causes no symptoms, while for others, it causes severe or chronic pain.
Symptoms of degenerative disc disease typically include back or neck pain, especially in the lower back, as well as numbness or tingling in their legs due to nerve compression. Other specific symptoms may include:
- Localized pain in the back, neck, or lower spine, especially during movement
- Shooting pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms or legs
- Struggling to lift objects or challenges with specific types of movement, due to weak muscles
- Stiffness
- Chronic pain
How do Accidents Cause Invertebral Disc Degeneration?
Accidents that cause trauma to the spine can jump-start the disc degeneration process or worsen symptoms of an existing condition. An accident can cause a disc to suddenly slip out of place, thus contributing to disc degeneration. Below are several examples of the types of disc damage beyond degenerative disease that accidents can cause:
- Herniated or slipped disc–when the soft material of a disc pushes through the outer layer, nerve irritation, pain, numbness, and weakness can occur. Herniated discs often happen when the sudden jolt of a rear-end collision jars the spine or the spine strikes the ground after a slip or fall.
- Bulging disc–when a disc protrudes but does not rupture, nerve compression, pain, and discomfort can occur. Bulging discs are a response to cumulative trauma after a crash, slip, or fall that causes incorrect alignment in the spine.
- Spinal Stenosis–spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows, and can be exacerbated by car or slip and fall accident trauma, especially if it structurally alters the spine.
- Annular Tears–these small tears in a disc’s outer surface happen during twisting or jarring movement during a crash, slip, or fall. Over time, they can result in herniation or other symptoms.
- Treatment typically involves anti-inflammatory medications, painkillers, heat/cold therapy, and potentially physical therapy. Without treatment, chronic back or neck pain, osteoarthritis, and spinal stenosis can occur.
How to Prove Your Accident Caused Disc Degeneration
Proving your disc degeneration was caused by an accident will require extensive medical records and expert analysis of your imaging scans, medical history, and your accident. It is unlikely the insurance company will approve your claim for damages without concrete proof that the accident caused the injury.
Even if you do not feel injured after an accident–especially if you believe it was due to another party’s negligence–the best plan is to seek immediate medical attention. This allows a doctor to identify injuries that may not cause immediate pain. To build a strong case, your attorney will need medical documentation showing that the crash caused your injuries. If you wait too long to seek medical help, it will be harder to prove that the crash resulted in injuries.
As the victim, the burden of proof is on you to not only show that an accident caused your disc degeneration, but also that another party was responsible for the accident. Pictures of the accident scene, police reports, and witness statements are all essential pieces of evidence, so make sure to gather them if possible. A qualified New York back injury attorney can also help you collect this and other evidence.
If the insurance company is denying coverage of your back or neck pain, talk to a New York back injury attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates.
Recovering Compensation for an Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Injury
A New York back and neck injury lawyer at Buttafuoco & Associates can help you establish causation in your case so you can recover damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Ongoing medical care
- Treatment for chronic pain
- Lost time from work
- And more, depending on the specifics of your case.
Contact us for help pursuing a lawsuit to recover damages after an accident.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT to set up a case review.