Any neck injury can be painful and disruptive to your ability to work or enjoy your life. However, a herniated disc at C4/C5 or C5/C6 can cause particularly debilitating pain. You may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if you have suffered a herniated disc at work.
Pursuing a workers’ comp claim can be complicated, especially when you do not know what your case is worth. Working with an experienced Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorney can help protect your rights and maximize your claim. Our workers’ comp lawyers at Calhoon & Kaminsky P.C. understand how challenging it can be to live with a cervical herniated disc, and we have the resources to fight for what you deserve. Contact our team today to learn more about how we can help you.
What Is Herniated Disc at C4/C5 and C5/C6?
While many people think of the spine as a single unit, anatomists divide it into five sections:
- Cervical spine – Seven bones from the base of the skull to just above the ribcage
- Thoracic spine – 12 bones that attach to the ribcage
- Lumbar spine – Five bones from below the ribcage to just above the pelvis
- Sacrum – Five fused bones making up the back of the pelvis
- Coccyx – Three to five small bones making up the “tailbone,” just below the pelvis
When referring to individual bones within the spine, anatomists and physicians number them from top to bottom within each section. For example, the uppermost vertebra in the cervical spine is called C1. The second bone in the thoracic spine is called T2, and so on.
In addition to bones, the spine has “discs” of cartilage between each vertebra to allow for shock absorption, support, and ease of movement. These discs are named for the junctions they occupy. When an injury causes these discs to push out from their natural positions, physicians call it a herniated (or bulging or slipped) disc. Herniated discs at the C4/C5 and C5/C6 junctions are particularly common.
What Causes Herniated Discs at C4/C5 and C5/C6?
Herniated discs can occur due to general wear and tear, but workplace injuries often play a significant role. Jobs that require frequent bending, lifting, twisting, or sitting with poor posture commonly lead to cervical disc herniations over time. Sudden trauma on the job can also cause a disc to rupture.
Some examples of workplace accidents that may result in a herniated C4/C5 or C5/C6 disc include:
- Lifting or carrying heavy objects, especially in an awkward position
- Slip and fall accidents
- Being struck by falling objects
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Repetitive motion injuries from assembly line work or typing
If your job involves routine exposure to these risks, take precautions like using proper lifting techniques, taking regular breaks, and wearing back braces or harnesses. Report any neck pain to your supervisor immediately. However, even with diligence, disc herniations may still occur.
Symptoms of Herniated Disc C4/C5 and C5/C6 Injuries
Most herniated cervical discs cause pain, which can radiate into the arms and hands. Many people also experience a tingling sensation in the head, neck, shoulders, or arms.
Symptoms specific to C4 C5 herniated discs include pain in the neck and shoulder, as well as weakness of the deltoid muscles. Herniated discs at this location do not generally provoke tingling or numbness.
C5 C6 herniated disc symptoms include:
- Neck, shoulder, and arm pain
- Weakness in the muscles of the arms and hands
- Tingling or numbness
- Reduced range of motion
If you suspect you have suffered a herniated disc at C4/C5 or C5/C6 on the job, visit a licensed medical professional immediately. A swift diagnosis can help you receive the workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
Negotiating a Settlement for Herniated Disc Injuries
Workers’ comp benefits typically include coverage of medical expenses and partial wage replacement for missed time. However, you may also wish to negotiate a lump sum settlement or seek long-term structured benefits.
A lump sum settlement provides compensation for your injury in one upfront payment. A lump sum allows you to use or invest the money as you see fit. However, it also means forgoing future benefits if your condition worsens.
Structured settlements pay benefits over time through an annuity funded by the insurer. These can guarantee a steady income stream, protecting you if your injury worsens. However, they give you less control over the money.
An experienced attorney can help you weigh the pros and cons of each type of settlement and fight for the maximum C5-C6 herniated disc settlement.
Factors That Drive Disc Injury Compensation
If you suffer a herniated disc on the job, several key factors will impact the potential value of your C4-C5 herniated disc settlement:
- Medical expenses – This category includes all costs related to diagnosing and treating your disc injury, such as doctor visits, surgery, medication, physical therapy, assistive devices, and more.
- Lost income – Disc injuries often require missing substantial time from work. You can claim wage loss benefits at a rate of two-thirds of your average weekly wage for the period you cannot work.
- Disability Rating – Your doctor will assess the degree of permanent impairment resulting from your disc herniation. More severe disabilities warrant higher payouts.
- Age – Younger workers tend to receive larger settlements since they live with their injury’s effects longer.
- Profession – Workers in more physically demanding jobs tend to command higher payouts because their injury may limit future work prospects.
- Comparable Verdicts and Settlements – A skilled workers’ comp attorney can point to precedents from similar disc injury cases to benchmark potential value.
A workers’ comp lawyer can explain how much you could receive in a spinal cord injury settlement.
Contact the Workers’ Comp Attorneys at Calhoon & Kaminsky
If you have suffered a herniated disc injury on the job in Pennsylvania, the knowledgeable attorneys at Calhoon & Kaminsky, P.C., can help. For over 20 years, our firm has exclusively represented injured workers in workers’ compensation claims. We have recovered over $221 million for our clients, and we’re eager to get to work for you, too.
Don’t leave money on the table after your disc injury. The dedicated work injury attorneys at Calhoon & Kaminsky, P.C., will fight aggressively to get you the full settlement you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. Take control of your future.
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For more than 20 years, our attorneys have been helping injured workers navigate the complex Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system. We empower workers with the information and the representation they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families’ future.
