Most herniated discs settle down within six to eight weeks, and the majority resolve without surgery. A herniated disc happens when the soft nucleus inside a spinal disc is pushed out and presses on a spinal nerve, which is what causes the pain that can radiate into the hips, buttocks, and legs.
What is a herniated disc?
A herniated disc, also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the jelly-like nucleus (known as the nucleus pulposus) found in the vertebral discs is pushed out of the bone, putting pressure on the spinal nerve. This is what causes the pain that may radiate from the neck and back to the hips, buttocks, and legs. Herniated discs typically happen in the lower back but may also occur in the neck and upper back.
It is a common back injury that typically occurs as we age; however, this injury may also result from trauma such as a fall or strain from sudden movements or heavy lifting. This condition may heal on its own or require medical treatment and interventions if left unchecked.
Types of herniated disc injuries
There are three types of disc herniation:
- Disc Protrusion – happens when the disc and ligaments remain intact but form a bulge that can cause pressure on the spinal nerves. This type of disc herniation may remain as is or develop into the other two types.
- Disc Extrusion – occurs when the nucleus pushes through the annulus (surrounding ligament ring) but remains connected to the disc. When the nucleus escapes, the body triggers an immune response causing inflammation as the nucleus is deemed a foreign body. Disc extrusion may develop into the next type of herniation.
- Disc Sequestration – also known as a ‘free fragment,’ is a type of extrusion that happens when the nucleus frees from the disc and actually separates. Like with extrusion, this type of herniation may cause inflammation.
How long does a herniated disc take to heal?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the healing and recovery time for back pain due to a disc herniation is between six and eight weeks and can typically resolve with self-care. If your condition requires medical intervention, it may often just be therapy. However, significant impairment to your daily activities and uncontrolled symptoms may require surgical intervention.
When to see a doctor: red flags
Despite normally resolving on its own, there are red flags to watch out for upon the development of back pain due to a herniated disc. Observing the following symptoms should call for a visit to your doctor or the emergency room:
- Fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, or rash
- Changes in bladder or bowel functions
- Serious and gradual weakness
Other risk factors that warrant a visit to your physician if you develop back pain and immune system suppression:
- Cancer history
- Unexplained weight loss due to back pain
- Back pain from trauma
What happens if a herniated disc goes untreated?
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the majority of herniated disc cases are resolved without surgery, and symptoms of sciatica and radiculopathy improve in days or weeks. However, leaving a herniated disc untreated may lead to a chronic condition or nerve damage, which may cause:
- Sharp pain
- Incontinence
- Irregular bowel movements
- Partial paralysis
If the herniated disc resulted from trauma, visit your doctor for an evaluation. If, within eight weeks, the pain or discomfort persists or you experience any of the red flags noted above, see your physician or visit the emergency room.
How much is a herniated disc worth in a car accident?
A herniated disc is often the result of a high-energy impact that injures the spine, such as a fall or a motor vehicle collision. This causes one or more of the discs to crack on the outside, tough cartilage part and allow the softer inner cartilage to protrude out of the disc’s perimeter. A car accident is traumatizing enough on its own, but experiencing a herniated disc adds a very painful injury and a heavy cost to bear. If someone else was at fault, you may be able to recover compensation for the damages you incurred.
Factors that influence a herniated disc injury valuation include the type of accident, the type and cost of car damage, the extent of injuries, the type and cost of treatment and future treatments, surgery, the lost wages from the time it kept you out of work, loss of future earning capacity, any disability or scarring that resulted, other injuries sustained, and the non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. These are different for everyone, so the valuation truly depends on your specific situation. Many of these will be looked at objectively to determine if there is an objective basis for what you are claiming.
There is no reliable average for a herniated disc after a car accident. Outcomes swing widely depending on whether the disc healed conservatively or required injections or surgery, how much work you missed, and how strong the medical evidence tying the herniation to the crash is. Any figures you see quoted online are illustrative past results, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes, so it is worth talking with an attorney about your specific circumstances.
Timing matters too. In most Illinois personal-injury cases you have two years from the date of the accident to file suit (735 ILCS 5/13-202), and waiting makes evidence and witness memories harder to pin down.
It is also important to keep in mind that Illinois follows the law of modified comparative negligence. If you were partly to blame for the accident, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you are barred from recovering anything only if you are found more than 50% at fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). So if a jury values your case at $100,000 and finds you 20% responsible, you recover $80,000. This is a topic that you can also discuss in further detail with your attorney.
How 844-SEE-MIKE can help
If your herniated disc is caused by a personal injury, we can help you ease the financial burden of treatment and recovery. Back injuries may greatly impair your quality of life, and having the financial capacity to cover your medical expenses and even lost earnings may ease the burden of the injury. With years of experience handling injury claims, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our clients have left more than 1,000 reviews on our website, and the firm holds an A+ BBB rating along with hundreds of five-star reviews on Google.
If you or a loved one has sustained a herniated disc injury from an accident, Contact 844-SEE-MIKE for a free consultation. Call 844-SEE-MIKE or reach out online, and we will help you work toward fair compensation. We’re here 24/7.
