Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Back & Disc Injuries

A serious back problem may lead to chronic pain, inability to work and lost productivity. Brett & Coats PLLC has been helping Washington State and Canadian victims of personal injury win substantial settlements and awards for more than 33 years.

1. What can I do to protect my back from injury?
2. What is the most common type of back injury?
3. I am always having back problems. How do I know if my accident has made them worse?
4. I suffered a back injury due to the negligence of someone else. Their insurance company offered me a settlement. Why would I need an attorney if I have been offered a settlement already?
5. What in the world is a herniated disc?
6. What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?
7. What is the treatment for herniated discs?
8. What is a lumbar sprain/strain?

1. What can I do to protect my back from injury?

Exercise to improve muscle tone in the back does provide some protection. Simple stretches and bends increase muscle tone and improved circulation to the back muscles.

Learning to lift properly is certainly valuable. The back is and will be prone to injury, however.

The spine has a dual purpose:

1. It must be highly mobile to allow bending and twisting.
2. It must be very stable and weight bearing as it maintains upright posture all day long.
3. These purposes are sometimes contradictory from an engineering standpoint. The vulnerability to back injury will always be a factor.

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2. What is the most common type of back injury?

Muscle sprains and joint or ligament strains are some of the most common back problems. Much damage is automatically healed by your body when it is at rest. Repair generally creates scar tissue, however. Scar tissue is not flexible or "stretchy" and generally leaves an area of weakness. This makes this area prone to re-injury.

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3. I am always having back problems. How do I know if my accident has made them worse?

• Contact your physician immediately if you notice the following:
• Loss of muscle control in one or both legs.
• Numbness in the back or parts of your legs.
• Loss of bowel or bladder control.
• Pain remains the same after 24 hours of rest.

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4. I suffered a back injury due to the negligence of someone else. Their insurance company offered me a settlement. Why would I need an attorney if I have been offered a settlement already?

An attorney experienced in your type of injury is in the best position to protect your interests legally. Your lawyer will know if the settlement is reasonable for your particular back injury and your particular case.

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5. What in the world is a herniated disc?

A Herniated Disk is a tear in the annular ligament that allows the nucleus pulposus to squeeze into the spinal canal. It generally causes pain, numbness, and weakness in those areas supplied by the nerve. Most often, the treatment involved surgical repair.

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6. What are the symptoms of a herniated disc?

Symptoms of a herniated disc generally include:

• neck or back pain associated with pain that radiates into the arm or leg,
• numbness (loss of sensation),
• weakness (loss of muscle strength),
• altered reflexes in the area controlled by that nerve, and
• bowel and bladder symptoms.

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7. What is the treatment for herniated discs?

If a disc herniation is not causing any discomfort, then no treatment is necessary. Initial treatment of a herniated disc is rest, ice, and medications (nonsteroidal antiinflammatories, steroid tapers, muscle relaxants, and/or pain killers). In cases where there is significant pain, then symptomatic management with oral medications, physical therapy, lumbar traction and spinal injections is appropriate.

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8. What is a lumbar sprain/strain?

Lumbar (lower back) sprain/strain occurs with a sudden stressful injury to the lower back region causes stretching or tearing of the muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments. The muscles are large in this area and when a strain occurs, severe low back pain is the result. However, a sprain or strain may be misdiagnosed when an underlying disc injury has not yet made itself evident.

For more information on back and disc injuries, please see our Back and Disc Injuries page.

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