Common Back Injuries

Back injuries are common following many of the most common types of injuries. Because the back is such a complex part of the body, it is not unheard of for back pain to persist for years after the injury is pronounced “healed” and the patient announced “recovered.”

In accidents, one of the most common injuries is a muscle injury to any of the numerous muscles connected to the back and spinal column. There are a huge number of muscles and muscle groups that are anchored to the spine and extend out in all directions. Without these muscles, movement would be quite difficult. At the same time, the number of muscles means that any given muscle injury to the back could be difficult to diagnose and treat appropriately.

Other common injuries involve the discs located between the individual vertebrae. These discs act as shock absorbers and are made of cartilage. The discs have the ability, like a spring or shock absorber, to be compressed to prevent impact of the vertebrae. However, it may be possible for the disc to be compressed too far. When the disc is too compressed, part of it may intrude into the spinal canal or column while the outer layer of the disc is intact. This is a known as a “bulging” disc.

Another type of disc injury is the herniated disc. This is also known as a “slipped” or “ruptured” disc injury. When a disc is herniated, the soft gooey tissue in the center of the disc is forced outward. The disc doesn’t actually slip out of place but the strong pressure exerted on the disc may force fragments of the inner portion of the disc to rupture the outer layer of the disc.

In any injury, there is the possibility that the injury to the disc will not actually cause pain. This lucky occurrence is in place when the disc does not interfere with any of the spinal nerves. Once the disc moves into contact with the nerves, pain and nerve impingement are quite common.

Contact a Harrisburg Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been in an accident and suffer lingering effects, contact the Harrisburg personal injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 610-667-7511.