Car accidents have undoubtedly remained one of the leading problems faced worldwide. Perhaps it is shocking is that in most developed countries, where issues like these have successfully gotten tackled, the threat faced by car accidents still stands true. Hence, it is a problem we need to collectively come together to solve because it might just be graver than you think it to be. The issue is not particular to any city or country and requires stringent government policy and control.
Perhaps the risk that car accidents pose to human health and well being is the risk of potential injuries like severe damage to the neck and head region. And matters like these often need care, attention, investment, and carefully thought out planning on the part of the government.
A few injuries faced include disc herniation, lower back pain, and whiplash injury. A common misconception held by many is that the link between accidents and their causes is black and white, but that might not usually be the case. It might be the easy way to go but is it sadly far from truth and fact.
Post-collision accidents are pretty straightforward to understand but it is the treatment that gets difficult to put up with and prescribe. However, the reasoning behind why the injury occurred might be a challenge because it can rely on and not be limited to factors like height or size of the individual.
Thus, we must have a more microscopic analysis of such injuries before we embark on the mission to enhance our knowledge of what accident doctors do. It will help us take the necessary preventative measures whenever need be.
Those well-versed with biological knowledge would know that whiplash accidents and disc slips happen due to the wear and tear of muscles and joints. And the signs can get noticed within the first 24 hours of the accident. Symptoms experienced include bouts of pain in the neck and head area, a loss of sensation, or a tingling feeling experienced in several body parts. Let us now dissect the article further to broaden our knowledge of how accident injuries happen.
So How Does One Go About Understanding Disc Herniation?
An accident injury doctor at a professional post-trauma clinic starts the diagnosis by first asking for possible signs of pain in the patient after the collision occurs. The paragraph below summarizes why this diagnosis is vital and discusses why disc slips occur.
Your assumption that the spinal cord is one of the most crucial organs getting affected by the hands of this accident would come true. Because saying that the spinal cord is needful for both structure and function would be spitting facts. The spine has shock moderators that cut down on the level of shock experienced. And the reason why the spinal cord can play this role is because of the discs and bone structure that form a circle around it.
However, the above explanation summarizes how a regular spine would work. On the other hand, a herniated disc is a deviation in the spine structure and a shift in its position. In a slipped or herniated disc, the shock eliminators are no longer seen in their original shape and cause discomfort to the patient. In such an instance, the damaged annulus of the spinal cord allows the disc nucleus to pass through its outer layer. The disc nucleus gets embedded into the spinal canal, a very narrow structure to hold it together. Therefore, the variation from its original form creates a lessening of space and misaligns the discs from their regular positions, making it even harder for the spine to firmly hold the discs together. This constriction of space compresses the spinal nerves, and the spine gets put under immense pressure, putting stress on the lower back and neck region. And this causes severe pain experienced at the site of injury. Herniated discs are a common problem because pain levels can go up to any rank during any time of the day. Hence, practitioners need to be on their guard even more when diagnosing such ailments, and patients must follow the doctor’s guidelines in the prescribed way. Perhaps what is most frightening about matters like these is that pain levels can rise to any level at any given time. Therefore, we must prevent the injury from getting worse before it gets too late. The patient suffers unbearable discomfort levels, leaving him in a highly uncomfortable state, battling for survival.
Some Common Causes of Disc Herniation
Direct Injury
Automobile accidents can never just be limited to cars or four-wheelers since it also includes other modes of transportation, like rickshaws and motorbikes. Some common routes that increase accidents include busy streets and highway zones, where you need to become extra careful while using. During rainy days, bikers have to take utmost precaution so that they do not skid and fall because of the slip.
All in all, accidents remain a matter that still needs deliberating since they can cause high levels of trauma in the long run. And in severe collisions, the spine gets put under even more threat as it gets forced to withstand immense pain levels. And if you do not get yourself checked in time, such accidents could result in possible disc slips.
Other Post-Accident Injuries
Judging from what you have read above, most of you would think that car accident are the only proprietors for disc herniation, but this assumption lies false and far from facts and data. However, this is false. Several other factors also play a part in causing mishaps on the road. Other causes include walking or falling from an elevated ground on your neck or back region.
Often, the driver is too distracted and does not make it a point to keep his eyes fixated on the road. And at other times, people adopt driving habits such as tailgating. Some additional factors include feeling distracted when driving or not maintaining a safe distance between your car and the one in front of you. The concept gets called tailgating, where they do not keep a safe area between their car and the one behind. And that increases the chances of collision.
In other instances, football teams in third-world countries do not get financed enough to adopt the needed safety precautions, such as shoulder pads and suitable footwear. And that increases the chance of an accident, especially around the head and neck areas. Sadly, surgical intervention becomes the only way to go in more urgent cases.
Signs and Symptoms to Help Spot a Herniated Disc
An accident injury doctor working at a trauma clinic helps you identify the underlying symptoms to help identify a slipped disc. The symptoms include the following.
• Chronic pain felt in the thighs, buttocks, and calves
• A tingling or prickling feeling
• Not being able to contain your balance and a feeling of discomfort experienced doing routinely tasks
• Burning pain surges felt in damaged areas and getting tired too quickly
• Severe pain in the lower areas of the spinal cord and the lower back
• Periodic pain levels in the neck areas and the parts next to the shoulder blades
Final Thoughts
Treatment regimens are no longer a hassle to adopt since you can find pharmacies and clinics that operate around the clock. Some even offer health insurance and other facilities that make treatment accessible to everybody.
