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Got In An Accident. Had Shoulder, Neck Pain. Now Having Lower Back Pain, Spasm, Numbness. Scan Shows Herniated Disc. Due To Accident?
I was in a rear ened car accident in Oct 2008 and I felt shoulders and neck pain right after the accident. But in December of 2008, I started to have lower back pain, spasm and pain radiated down my leg. I also felt numbness on my feet, slowly my leg got weaker. By 2010, I finally got a CT scan and showed I have a herniated disc on L4/5 S1. I just wonder whether the accident has caused the herniated disc. Is it possible that lower back pain does not appear right away, but it appears weeks or months after the accident? Please help! Thanks
Mon, 1 Jul 2013
Hello,
Welcome at HCM.
The prolapsed disc can be due to accident.It is not necessary to lead to symptoms until unless it is large or ruptured or it presses over a nerve.At present you should take precaution to not to bend at your back in abnormal position .Take the help of a physiotherpist. He may teach you some exercises,which will be very helpful.
With best wishes.
Welcome at HCM.
The prolapsed disc can be due to accident.It is not necessary to lead to symptoms until unless it is large or ruptured or it presses over a nerve.At present you should take precaution to not to bend at your back in abnormal position .Take the help of a physiotherpist. He may teach you some exercises,which will be very helpful.
With best wishes.
I find this answer helpful
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
Your back pain may or may not be related to the accident. But what is more important is the weakness that you are experiencing in your leg. This suggests that you are having significant compression of the nerve roots in the spinal cord.
This definetely needs surgical intervention as prolonged compression of the nerve roots leads to atrophy of the muscles that are being supplied by that nerve. And these changes almost will be become irreversible if left untreated.
So i suggest you to consult a spine surgeon and follow his advice accordingly.
Hope this helps
Your back pain may or may not be related to the accident. But what is more important is the weakness that you are experiencing in your leg. This suggests that you are having significant compression of the nerve roots in the spinal cord.
This definetely needs surgical intervention as prolonged compression of the nerve roots leads to atrophy of the muscles that are being supplied by that nerve. And these changes almost will be become irreversible if left untreated.
So i suggest you to consult a spine surgeon and follow his advice accordingly.
Hope this helps
I find this answer helpful
Hi,
It is most likely that the two incidents are unrelated. Herniated discs are not uncommon. You may even had the herniated disc before the accident but it was not causing any symptoms. I does appear from your description that your symptoms are quite severe. I would suggest you see an orthopedic surgery who specializes in back surgery for advice on further treatment.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
MBChB FRCA
It is most likely that the two incidents are unrelated. Herniated discs are not uncommon. You may even had the herniated disc before the accident but it was not causing any symptoms. I does appear from your description that your symptoms are quite severe. I would suggest you see an orthopedic surgery who specializes in back surgery for advice on further treatment.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger
MBChB FRCA
I find this answer helpful
1 user finds this helpful
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