While we have offices in Milwaukee and Madison, we handle back injury cases that happen throughout Wisconsin.
The Lumbar Spine
consists of 5 bony vertebrae L1-L5. In between each vertebrae is a Disk. Each Disk
is composed of a fibrous material surrounding a gel-like substance. Imagine a jelly donut. Trauma to the Disk can result in the bulging of the fibrous material or it can result in the disk actually opening up and leaking out the gel-like substance.
Low Back Injuries
due to trauma resulting in disk injury can include any of the following:
- Herniated Disk
- Bulging Disk
- Ruptured Disk
- Compressed Disk
- Prolapsed Disk
- Slipped Disk
Herniate
means to “protrude through an abnormal body opening.” Unfortunately, in the medical community, there is not a clear consensus in the definition and distinction between herniation, rupture, bulge, compression, prolapse or slip. Generally, a
Ruptured Disk
means that the disc has opened up, allowing the gel-like substance to leak out. A
Bulging Disk
usually means just that, the Disk is bulging out in one or more areas. In either a Disk Bulge or a Disk Rupture, if there is aggravation to any of the nerves within the
Spinal Column, the individual is likely to have extreme pain and possibly
Radicular Symptoms, i.e. shooting pain or numbness into the buttocks, legs, and/or feet.
The most effective diagnostic device for detecting a Lumbar Disc problem is MRI. An MRI will reveal damage to the Discs, while an X-ray or CT scan will simply reveal damage to the bones.
Treatment for Disk Injury can range from rest, pain medication, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, medication, traction, chiropractic manipulation, injections, or surgery.