How to Get Relief After a Motorcycle Accident Herniated Disc Injury

Until the time of your motorcycle accident, your disc sat between your vertebrae where it belonged. During the accident, however, your spine underwent trauma and the disc was pushed out of place or cracked. Your doctor may call your injury a herniated disc, bulging disc, slipped disc, or ruptured disc.

How a Motorcycle Crash Can Cause a Herniated Disc

Some herniated discs happen with age, but others occur because of trauma. A motorcycle accident is one type of trauma that may result in a disc injury. The impact of the collision or the way your body twisted when you fell off your motorcycle can cause your spinal column to move in unnatural ways, and a herniated disc injury may occur.

Herniated Disc Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

You should discuss any symptoms of a ruptured disc with your doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Tingling
• Muscle tightness
• Loss of bladder control or paralysis, in extreme cases

If your herniated disc occurs in your back, then you may experience these symptoms in your buttocks, hips, or legs. If the herniated disc occurs in your neck, then you may experience these symptoms in your arms or shoulders.

The symptoms described above may come from a herniated disc injury or another type of back injury. Accordingly, you need a medical diagnosis to identify the cause of your symptoms and the right treatment plan for you.

Your doctor will diagnose a herniated disc by doing one or more of the following:

• Conducting a physical exam that checks your reflexes, muscle strength, ability to feel sensations, and ability to walk.
• Ordering imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRIs. A bulging disc may be seen on a CT scan or MRI. X-rays can’t detect herniated discs but may be used to rule out other problems.
• Performing electromyograms or nerve conduction studies to determine how electrical impulses move along your nerve tissue. These tests may help determine the extent of your injury.

After a herniated disc injury is diagnosed, your doctor should discuss treatment options with you. Your individualized treatment plan depends on the unique symptoms you suffer because of herniated disc injury. Treatments may include:

• Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
• Prescription medications, including narcotics or muscle relaxers.
• Cortisone injections administered in your doctor’s office.
• Physical therapy to teach you exercises that help you minimize pain and help you modify your activities to avoid worsening your condition.
• Alternative treatments such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage.
• Surgery if medication, physical therapy, and alternative treatments can’t control the pain or if the cauda equina nerves are compressed.

Your treatment plan may change over time.

Protect Your Motorcycle Accident Herniated Disc Recovery

Your recovery may be long and expensive. You may incur significant doctors’ bills, medication expenses, physical therapy costs, and other medical expenses. Additionally, your herniated disc symptoms may make it impossible for you to work or earn the same income you did before you got hurt.

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will investigate your claim, gather all relevant evidence, negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, and take your case to court if a fair settlement can’t be reached.

Throughout your case, we will focus on getting you a fair recovery for past and future:

• Healthcare costs including doctor’s visits, hospital stays, medications, surgeries, physical therapy, and alternative therapies suggested by your medical team
• Lost income if you are completely out of work or if your income is reduced because of your injuries
• Out-of-pocket expenses for any additional help you need because of your injuries
• Physical pain for the symptoms you experience
• Emotional suffering for the psychological pain of your injury

Our experienced Midwest motorcycle accident lawyers are also riders. We are proud of the awards we’ve earned, but we are even prouder to represent other riders who have been hurt in motorcycle crashes.

We encourage you to contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation if you are hurt in a motorcycle crash. Call us or contact us through this website today to learn more.