Leveling the Field between Injured Iowans and Insurance Companies.

Serious Complications from a Herniated Disc

Physically demanding jobs that require a lot of pushing, pulling and lifting could lead to a herniated disc and an Iowa Workers' Compensation claim. Some of the symptoms of a herniated disc include pain in one leg or arm, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness.

If a herniated disc ruptures in the center of the spinal canal and produces a large fragment, the result could be cauda equina syndrome. This rare complication of a herniated disc involves the fragment compressing a group of nerve roots at the end of the spinal cord. The symptoms include: 

• Worsening herniated disc symptoms: Numbness, weakness or pain might increase, preventing you from performing your ordinary activities of daily living.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control: You might become incontinent in your urinary or gastrointestinal system. You might also have difficulty urinating when your bladder is full.
• Saddle anesthesia: You will progressively lose sensation in your inner thighs, the back of your legs and around your rectum, the parts of your body that would touch a saddle.  

If you experience these symptoms, you need to get to an emergency room as soon as possible. Emergency surgery is necessary to avoid paralysis or permanent weakness.

As you recuperate from a herniated disc, you should consult with a Newton Workers' Compensation attorney, who can go over your case and work to hold your employer's insurer accountable for the full extent of your medical expenses and lost earnings. 

Contacting a Newton Workers' Compensation Attorney

A herniated disc can cause you to miss time from work as your bills pile up. The Newton Workers' Compensation attorney team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair know the importance of protecting your work injury claim from the get-go. That's why we provide this FREE book; Iowa Workers' Compensation - An Insider's Guide to Work Injuries: 7 Deadly Mistakes To Avoid If You Are Hurt At Work. To learn more about what our legal team will do to help you protect your Iowa work injury claim, contact Walker, Billingsley & Bair to schedule a no-cost consultation - 1-888-792-3595.