Curtis Dayson | Updated On: April 14, 2025 | Car Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents can cause various injuries. Common ones you might picture or experience if you’re unfortunate enough to be in a car wreck may include whiplash, bruises, and cuts.
However, there are many overlooked injuries you might not consider that happen after two cars collide. One such injury is a bulging disc. In this post, you’ll learn what a bulging disc is, how car accidents cause bulging discs, and how a personal injury attorney can help should this condition arise.
What Is a Bulging Disc?
The human spine contains discs between the bones that make up your spine. These discs serve to absorb shock while enabling pain-free flexibility. A bulging disc occurs when one or more of your discs push or jut out without the outer part of your disc breaking. You may also hear this condition referred to as a disc prolapse.
Car accidents can cause bulging discs. However, that’s not the only way this condition happens. Other reasons for someone to suffer a disc prolapse include:
- Age-related degeneration
- Bad posture
- Injuries
- Repetitive strain
What Are the Differences Between a Bulging and Herniated Disc?
Understandably, bulging and herniated discs sound similar. However, they’re not. Here’s more information about how these ailments differ.
- Bulging Discs: A bulging disc occurs when the disc’s outer layer remains unruptured but protrudes to the point of causing mild to moderate discomfort.
- Herniated Discs: The outer layer of your spinal disc tears, resulting in a viscous-like gel substance exiting your disc. A difference between a herniated and bulging disc is that the former typically causes more pain than the latter.
How Car Accidents Cause Bulging Discs
The speed and weight of vehicles generate significant impact when they crash into each other. The injuries sustained by those in these vehicles are affected depending on where two automobiles hit. In many cases, even after a low-speed collision, crashes can cause spinal compression or excess pressure on this part of your body.
For instance, whiplash, a commonly reported post-accident injury, can result in a bulging disc after a car accident in South Carolina. After a car crash, sustaining direct impact, specifically to the back, may also lead to bulging discs. Additionally, twisting suddenly as an accident happens can cause a disc to bulge.
Understanding the Long-Term Impacts of a Bulging Disc
Some injuries heal fast. Sometimes, those dealing with bulging discs find themselves experiencing issues working and engaging in physical activities. Unfortunately, such chronic pain and discomfort can make it nearly impossible to enjoy the same quality of life you had before your accident.
Bulging Disc Symptoms After a Car Accident
You’ve learned what a bulging disc is. It’s now time to determine if this condition is affecting you. Common signs of a bulging disc include:
- Neck or back pain, which sometimes radiates from your neck down your arms or from your lower back to your legs
- Tingling or numbness
- Mobility issues
- Sudden muscle weakness
If you experience these bulging disc symptoms after a car wreck, get a check-up from a medical professional as soon as possible. A doctor can also help utilize the differences between a bulging and herniated disc to determine which injury you sustained. This person can also have you begin a suitable bulging disc treatment plan.
Bulging Disc Treatment Options
Treating a bulging disc can depend on the severity of this condition. Fortunately, many ways exist to treat this sometimes painful injury. Treatment options include:
- Resting: The human body requires rest to heal, which is why it’s also recommended for people with bulging disc symptoms.
- Steroid Injections: These are used to reduce inflammation, which can help with pain while promoting healing.
- Pain Management: Some find it easier to deal with a bulging disc after a car accident in South Carolina with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication.
- Physical Therapy (PT): Spinal problems and a lack of mobility often go hand in hand. Physical therapy is a surgery-free way for people to obtain relief from bulging discs.
- Surgery: This bulging disc treatment is often only advisable for those dealing with severe pain. Surgery lets trained professionals correct a bulging disc physically to relieve pressure on spinal nerves.
Am I Eligible for a Bulging Disc Settlement in South Carolina?
We’ve covered if a car accident can cause a bulging disc. Wanting to know if you can obtain compensation for this often painful and debilitating condition is understandable. There’s good news. Obtaining a bulging disc settlement in South Carolina is possible.
Before seeking damages, knowing the factors that affect your claim is vital. The factors that affect a settlement for a bulging disc after a car accident in South Carolina include:
- The severity of your injury
- If your injury has long-term impacts
- Your injury-related medical expenses
- Whether you incurred lost wages
- Pain and suffering
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help in South Carolina
You may have many other questions, such as, “Can a car accident cause a bulging disc?” Dayson Shalabi Burkett Law Firm (DSB), LLC is here to help answer them.
DSB is a legal team formed by experienced and proven South Carolina lawyers. We help accident victims navigate the often complex world of injury claims.
Understanding how a personal injury attorney can help during this time is crucial. DSB can assist you in many ways, including:
- Collecting and showcasing proof, including testimonies from witnesses, accident photos, and more
- Negotiating with insurance companies for a maximum value settlement
- Representing you in a courtroom if the other party isn’t willing to work with us
As we’ve covered, a car accident can cause a bulging disc. Suppose you’re experiencing this or any other condition after a vehicle accident. In that case, Our personal injury attorneys in Columbia, SC, are ready to help – experience how a personal injury attorney can help in your South Carolina case. Get started with a free consultation. Let us maximize your potential bulging disc settlement in South Carolina.