Can a Car Accident Cause a Herniated Disc? - What to Know
A car accident can cause a herniated disc or make an existing one worse. Car accidents can cause sudden, forceful movement that stresses the spine and the discs cushioning each vertebra. Motor vehicle accidents are behind a wide range of injuries, including herniated discs and spinal cord injuries, which can be more serious.
A key thing to note is that not all herniated discs are a direct result of an auto accident. Some may have developed because an accident exacerbated an existing spinal condition. This guide will go over what a herniated disc is, how a crash can injure one, symptoms to watch for, diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and when urgent care is needed.
What Is a Herniated Disc?
Spinal discs act as shock absorbers between each vertebra, cushioning the spine as you move. Each disc has a tough outer layer that surrounds a soft center. When annular tears develop in that outer layer, the softer material inside can push through. That's when disc herniation occurs.
You may hear this called a slipped disc, but the disc doesn't actually slip out of place. A more accurate way of saying this is that a herniated disc occurs when part of the disc ruptures outward. This can irritate or compress the spinal nerve, resulting in pain.
It's important to note that a bulging disc is different. A bulging disc occurs when the disc protrudes without the outer layer tearing. It's generally considered less severe than a herniated or ruptured disc.
Disc degeneration can happen naturally with age, even without an injury. Because of this, an abnormal finding on imaging doesn't automatically mean it's the source of someone's symptoms. A healthcare professional looks at symptoms, examination findings, medical history, and imaging together before drawing conclusions.
How Can a Car Accident Cause a Herniated Disc?
A car crash happens fast. Acceleration, deceleration, bending, twisting, and compression can all place sudden stress on the spinal column and the discs between each vertebra.
Whiplash is a common example of a car accident injury. During some collisions, the neck moves rapidly backward and then forward, placing strain on the cervical spine and the structures around it. This can lead to a bulging disc injury or, in some cases, a more serious injury involving herniation.
Even minor accidents involving sudden twisting or abrupt force can affect the spine and nearby nerves. Pre-existing disc degeneration can also make a person more vulnerable to injury.
Because of this, it's not always clear whether a crash caused a new disc problem or aggravated one that was already there. An individual clinical assessment can help determine that difference and identify any effects on the nervous system or surrounding nerves.
What Does a Herniated Disc Feel Like After a Car Accident?
What you feel following a herniated disc depends on where the injury is located. An injured thoracic spine can trigger symptoms that are much different from what you would experience if your lumbar spine is affected.
Common symptoms of a cervical disc injury include:
Neck pain
Stiffness
Shoulder pain
Pain traveling into the arm
Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the arm or hand
A lumbar spine injury tends to look different. It often involves lower back pain, buttock pain, and pain traveling down the leg, sometimes with numbness, tingling, or weakness in the leg or foot.
When a nerve is involved, don't expect localized pain. The pain can travel away from the spine, which is one reason nerve damage can be trickier to pin down than muscle soreness alone.
Not everyone with a herniated disc will feel pain at all. Some people have herniations that never cause noticeable symptoms. For others, herniated disc symptoms show up right away, and for some, they become noticeable only days later.
Whether you’re experiencing mild to severe pain or chronic pain, it's best to get evaluated rather than wait.
How Is a Herniated Disc Diagnosed After a Car Accident?
Diagnosis starts with a healthcare provider asking about how the accident occurred, when symptoms started, where the pain is located, and whether it travels into an arm or leg. They'll also ask about numbness, weakness, and any previous injuries or spinal problems. All of these details support early diagnosis and help identify the injuries sustained in the crash.
After taking a detailed medical history assessment, a healthcare provider will conduct a physical and neurological examination. These are important for assessing a patient's range of motion, movement, and function.
Some patients may require further evaluation. In such cases, a medical provider may recommend imaging tests, including:
MRI for visualizing discs, nerves, and the spinal canal, including findings like spinal stenosis
X-rays for evaluating bones and certain injuries
CT scans for cross-sectional 3D details
How Is a Herniated Disc Treated After a Car Accident?
There are several factors that can affect medical treatment for a herniated disc, and they include:
The severity of the injury
Symptoms
Any neurological findings
The part of the spine that's affected
How much the injury is limiting the patient's daily function
Treatment for a herniated disc for many patients begins with conservative, non-surgical treatment options. These may include:
Therapeutic exercises
Stretching and mobility work
Strengthening exercises and activity modification
General rehabilitation
Patient education to help them understand what's happening in their body and how to move safely
After a car accident, chiropractic care may provide much-needed relief. An experienced chiropractor can identify and evaluate musculoskeletal problems, assess mobility restrictions, and work with the patient to improve their condition. They can create an individualized treatment plan that involves the right type of physical therapy and even recommend that patients see a healthcare provider for additional evaluation.
While a chiropractor doesn't prescribe medications or epidural injections, these may be part of a broader care plan alongside conservative treatment. Patients who experience persistent or worsening symptoms after conservative care may need to consider spinal surgery. Surgery is aimed at relieving pressure on the affected nerve and is often considered the last resort.
When Should You Seek Emergency Care for a Herniated Disc?
Most herniated discs aren't medical emergencies. But there are some warning signs that are worth knowing.
If you experience any of the following, seek medical attention right away:
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Numbness around the groin or saddle region
Significant or rapidly worsening weakness in the legs
Sudden, serious changes in neurological function
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Herniated Disc After a Car Accident?
How long it takes to recover from a herniated disc after a car accident depends on several factors, including:
Severity of the injury
Where the disc problem is located
Whether a nerve is involved
Overall health and physical condition
Any previous spinal problems
How closely the patient follows their treatment plan
Many people improve with conservative treatment over time. Others find that symptoms persist or return periodically, even with care. Rather than fixating on a predetermined timeline, it's more useful to monitor how you're actually changing week to week.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident If Your Neck or Back Hurts?
Since car accident injuries aren't always obvious, accident victims should always get a professional medical evaluation as soon as possible. If you're experiencing symptoms after the traumatic incident, be sure to explain them in detail, as that can help the medical provider understand your situation better.
From there, follow your recommended treatment plan and keep relevant medical records and medical bills, as they can prove useful when filing injury claims. Avoid jumping back into strenuous activity, as various injuries from a collision can behave differently. A chiropractor can help create a conservative treatment plan and guide you on getting back into your daily routine as safely as possible. For more information, this personal injury chiropractor in Albuquerque may be able to help.
Can a Herniated Disc Affect a Car Accident Injury Claim?
A documented disc injury may be relevant to an accident-related claim. Medical documentation, including symptoms, examination findings, diagnosis, imaging, treatment, and functional limitations, can matter here. Whether a crash caused or aggravated a disc condition depends on individual circumstances.
Sandia Injury Center provides complete medical documentation and records that can be useful for your injury claim.
For questions about financial compensation, lost wages, or a car accident settlement with an insurance company, consult a qualified personal injury attorney in New Mexico.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can provide further guidance on what to do after your car accident to improve your chances of recovery. Most offer a free consultation, so it doesn't hurt to get a legal assessment alongside a medical evaluation. They can assist with questions such as how are medical bills paid after a car accident?
When Should You See a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
A chiropractic evaluation may be worth considering if you're dealing with persistent neck pain, back pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility after a collision. Headaches associated with neck symptoms or pain extending into an arm or leg are also worth having evaluated.
A chiropractor can evaluate musculoskeletal function and determine whether chiropractic care fits your situation, coordinating with or supplementing other healthcare providers when needed. Sandia Injury Center sees patients from Albuquerque and surrounding New Mexico communities for exactly these kinds of evaluations. They can help with the question of should i go to chiropractor after car accident?
Get Care for Car Accident-Related Neck and Back Pain at Sandia Injury Center!
Pain after a collision shouldn't be something you just live with. If your injuries are causing pain and affecting your daily life, Sandia Injury Center is here to help. Patients from across Albuquerque and the surrounding New Mexico communities trust us for individualized plans and compassionate care. We’re here to provide the same level of care for you.
Call us at (505) 266-6200 to schedule your appointment with an experienced chiropractor today!