Many orthopedic physicians do not recommend back surgery until they absolutely have to. They tend to treat surgery as a last resort. Often, individuals who have to undergo these surgeries are victims of serious automobile or workplace accidents. If you have incurred a cervical or lumbar spine injury as a result of a car collision or have filed a workers’ compensation claim relating to a back injury, contact the North Carolina accident lawyers of Maginnis Howard. Our back injury attorneys have experience representing clients with serious back and neck injuries and will aggressively represent your interests against the insurance company.
Herniated Discs
One of the more common injuries caused by automobile and workplace accidents is the herniated disc. The human spine has twenty-six (26) hard vertebrae, and between each is a soft disc that acts as a cushion. Each disc contains a material called the nucleus pulposos. A traumatic injury can cause that material to escape into the vertebral foramen, the area of your spine enclosing the spinal cord. Once there, the nucleus pulposus can exert pressure on the spinal cord, causing debilitating, radiating pain down the extremities.
Treating a Herniated Disc
There are two primary surgeries used to treat a herniated disc: a discectomy and a fusion. The discectomy is usually the first option. The goal of the surgery is simply to go in and remove the nucleus pulposus impinging upon the spinal cord. This can, in many cases, lead to immediate relief following the surgery. A discectomy is most commonly performed at level L4-L5. It may also be performed on the cervical spine, including at C6-C7.
In some cases, a discectomy may not be enough. This may occur, for example, if little of your disc is left. In these circumstances, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend a disc fusion. This surgery, commonly known as spinal fusion, involves placing a piece of bone where your disc formerly was. Over the course of several weeks, that piece of bone will fuse with the two vertebrae it is situated between.
Back Injury Lawyers
The personal injury attorneys at Maginnis Howard provide free consultations to all prospective back injury clients. That includes those undergoing discectomy and fusion surgeries. We offer contingency fee arrangements, meaning you pay attorneys’ fees only if we recover funds on your behalf. Our firm believes a strong relationship between client and lawyer leads to the best result. Our goal is to provide a personal experience.
If you have sustained a serious back injury requiring a lumbar or cervical discectomy or fusion, contact the dedicated personal injury attorneys of Maginnis Howard. We represent clients across the Carolinas from our Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offices. Contact us for a free consultation with an experienced intake specialist.
