When the discs in a person’s spine work properly, they protect the spine from injury. A disc is a small oval pad that acts as a cushion to the spine. Damage to the disc can result in a herniated disc, also called a slipped or ruptured disc.
What is a herniated disc?
A disc consists of two layers: an outer layer (annulus) and an inner layer (nucleus). The outer layer is tough, while the inner layer is composed of soft gel-like material. A herniated disc can occur because of aging or an injury to the spine. Many herniated disc injuries result from increased pressure to the back, heavy strain, or repetitive activities. An injury occurs when cracks or holes in the outer layer of the disc cause gel from the inner layer to spill out into the spinal canal. This can cause the disc to break or bulge.
Symptoms of a herniated disc
In some cases, a person with a herniated disc will not experience any symptoms. For others, a herniated disc can be very painful.
Symptoms of a herniated disc include the following:
- Lower back pain: Pain and numbness may occur in the buttocks and down the leg, which can worsen when coughing or sneezing.
- Sciatica: Herniated discs can cause shooting pain in the buttocks and down the back of the leg.
- Nerve pain: Numbness, weakness, and pain can occur in the lower back, legs, neck, shoulders, chest, or arms.
Treatment for a herniated disc
In many cases, a herniated disc will heal on its own. Most herniated disc injuries heal through nonsurgical treatment methods. Treatment may include rest, medication for pain relief, exercise, and physical therapy. According to WebMD, 10 percent of people with a herniated disc undergo surgery to correct the problem.
Back surgery is performed to decompress a pinched nerve root. As with other forms of surgery, the back pain cannot simply be cut out. However, the lumbar spine’s anatomy can be changed to help remove the probable cause of the pain. The goal of back surgery is to reduce pain and improve function.
The lumbar spine is made up of vertebrae that cover and protect the spinal cord. The cord contains nerves that provide sensation to the legs and lower extremities. The discs between the vertebrae provide support and allow motion. An injury to a disc may cause impingement on the nerve, creating a bulging disc against the spinal cord. This can cause lumbar stenosis and eventually spondylosis. The changes cause narrowing of the spinal cord, pinching the spinal cord and nerve roots. This results in a condition known as radiculopathy. Lumbar radiculopathy frequently manifests itself as pain in the buttocks, thighs, and lower legs with a combination of sensory loss, loss of motor function, or reflex changes to the affected nerve root distribution.
Acceptable treatment for low back pain resulting in radiculopathy normally begins with conservative measures and progresses to most invasive. These treatments include oral medications in the category of non-steroidal, narcotic, non-narcotic pain, muscle relaxants, certain anti-depressants, and anti-seizure medications used to control neuropathic pain anxiolytics. Additional treatments may include epidural steroid injections, pain patches, physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, acupuncture, and nerve blocks. Surgery is often reserved for the most severe cases when all other treatments have been tried.
Can I receive workers’ compensation for herniated disc injuries?
If a work-related injury caused your herniated disc, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Many workers are in positions that require repetitive lifting, bending down, and driving. These roles can cause a higher risk of developing a herniated disc. However, many other injuries at the workplace can also cause a herniated disc.
If you have a herniated disc injury, you’re likely in a lot of pain and may even be unable to work. This can leave you with medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses. A workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help you pursue a workers’ comp settlement for a bulging disc injury that occurred at work.
How to prove a herniated disc injury from work
There are a few things you’ll have to prove for your workers’ comp settlement for a herniated disc. In particular, you’ll need to show that a work-related injury occurred and caused your bulging disc.
You can do this using some of the following pieces of evidence:
- Photo and video evidence of the accident
- Medical records
- Witness statements
- Accident reports
- Proof of missed work
It’s important to save everything through the process to show that a work-related accident caused your pain and suffering. An experienced workers’ comp attorney can help you gather and present the evidence you need to support your herniated disc workers’ comp claim.
Contact a workers’ compensation attorney today
If you have sustained a herniated disc injury at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation for your Pennsylvania work injury. Contact a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyer at the Calhoon and Kaminsky P.C. Call or contact us online today to schedule a consultation.
Note; this content was originally published in July 2011 and has been updated for relevance and comprehensiveness in February 2022.
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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.
