Following a car accident, many of the people involved will experience aches and pains, and sometimes they may write these symptoms off as no big deal, but this is a mistake. One of the most common misconceptions regarding accident injuries is most people think that neck pain means they just have whiplash, so they do not seek further treatment, but in reality it could be a serious cervical (neck) spine herniation causing the pain.

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a term (non-medical) that refers to a collection of injuries sustained to the neck when it is suddenly jerked in a given direction. This injury is often seen in car accidents, especially those involving a vehicle that has been rear-ended. The general belief when someone gets into an accident is that the soreness they feel will go away with rest because they have felt this way before after moving heavy furniture or some other physical exertion. Accident injuries are very different however, and it is much more likely that your symptoms will progress and worsen rather than get better with time and rest.

This is why it is so important that you seek immediate medical treatment following an accident, even if you do not believe you are that badly injured. The sooner these injuries are identified and diagnosed the sooner you can begin treatment to get better. Another reason why medical attention is imperative when you are experiencing neck pain after a car crash is because whiplash displays many of the same symptoms of a disc herniation, a much more serious problem.

What is a Herniated Disc?

Discs are the shock-absorbers that exist between the vertebrae in your spine. When the discs sustain trauma, they can crack allowing the gel-like interior of the disc ooze out. As it expands, the gel places pressure on the spinal cord and other surrounding nerves and nerve clusters. This not only causes significant pain but can severely limit your ability to perform tasks, as neck herniations generally send pain into the arms and hands.

Both whiplash and cervical herniations can present symptoms such as:

  • Pain in neck
  • Pain radiating into arms and hands
  • Stiffness
  • Headaches

Differentiating whiplash from a herniation can be all but impossible on your own. Tests and examinations by trained medical professionals is the best way to identify what you are suffering from and what the next course of action should be.

The emotional, financial, and physical impacts of a car accident can be life-altering. If a car accident has left you severely injured, contact a Philadelphia lawyer today to learn of your legal rights to compensation.

Links:

  • (i) cervical (neck) spine herniation:
    http://www.consoleandhollawell.com/pages/cervical-disc-herniation-injury-attorneys-in-pennsylvania/
  • (ii) injured, contact a Philadelphia lawyer:
    http://www.consoleandhollawell.com/pages/philadelphia-accident-lawyers/

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Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

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