Lower back injuries are some of the most debilitating injuries a person can experience. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas we have worked with many clients who have injuries to the lower back. Read on to learn more about this type of injury and why they occur so frequently in car accidents. Then contact us at 909-982-0707 if you require a free legal consultation.
Lower Back Injuries Are Caused by Force in Car Accidents
The most common way that a back injury occurs during a car accident involves the driver sitting upright with their spin straight. The crash happens, a lot of force is felt, and the upper part of the body goes forward and backward with the impact, depending on the direction of the force. If the spine goes with the force it can result in tears to the muscles and ligaments, and even to nerve or spinal injuries within the same area.
Understanding the Spine
To understand lower back injuries, an understanding of the spine is necessary. Your spine is made up of loop blocks stacked on top of each other. Between each of the bones are discs, which act like shock absorbers. When an injury happens, the spin may move to the front, back, or sideways – which can damage the disc. This can lead to many issues including pinching of the nerve – otherwise known as Sciatica.
More About Sciatica
Also known as sciatic neuralgia, sciatica is a condition in which the nerve is compressed. This results in pain in the lower back, leg, and hip. The sciatica nerve itself is a very larger nerve that begins in the lumbar spine and goes all the way down the hip, leg, and foot. You have one on each side of your body, which is why sciatica generally only affects one side of a person’s body.
Most people describe the pain of sciatica as a sharp pain in their lower back that can also be felt in the hips, thighs, and legs of one side of a person’s body. There can be additional systems too, like numbness, tingling, and burning. Generally speaking, a person with sciatica will find the pain getting worse when they are sitting, when they move, or when they sneeze or cough.
Have You Suffered a Lower Back Injury?
One of the most common causes of lower back injuries – including sciatica – is car accidents. This is because the impact can be so great. If you believe you have been the victim of an accident in which you have suffered a serious injury such as sciatica, we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
