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A herniated disc can cause pain, numbness, and tingling that can make it hard to work or enjoy life.

​What is a herniated disc?

​Your spine is made of three main parts: the backbones (vertebrae), the spinal discs, and the spinal nerve roots.  The backbones are separated from each other by sacs called discs.  The discs make sure that the backbones can move without touching each other.  Sometimes, if your back is put under a lot of pressure, one of the discs can break open.  This is called a herniated disc.  Once the disc is broken, the soft gel inside the disc can leak out and the gel can press on one of your spinal nerve roots.  Normally, this will not cause your back to hurt.  It will cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in your hands, feet, shoulder, arms, or legs.  Where the pain is depends on which of the nerve roots the herniated spinal disc is touching.  

​How do herniated discs happen? 

​Herniated discs happen when you hurt your back lifting a heavy object, falling on your back, when something heavy hits you, or during another workplace accident that puts a lot of force on your back.  Herniated discs can also happen gradually over time.  The disc may slowly bulge out, little by little, until the disc finally herniates after doing heavy lifting or other strenuous work for a long time.  For more information on work injuries that happen over time, visit our page of repetitive stress injuries.  

​What’s the difference between a herniated disc, a bulging disc, and a slipped disc? 

​These are all different names for the same condition.  Different doctors will use different terminology, but the names are interchangeable.  In general, though, a bulging disc is a disc that has changed shape, while a herniated disc is a disc that has burst.  

I’m not sure, do I really have a herniated disc? 

You can only find out whether you have a herniated disc for sure by seeing a doctor, but if you have 
pain, swelling or other discomfort following a workplace accident, it is possible you herniated a disc.  Call our workers’ compensation attorneys at 847-352-6226 or use the contact form at the bottom of the page for a free consultation on your workers’ compensation claim to help get your medical bills paid for.  

Should I wait to see if the pain goes away? 

​If you think you hurt yourself or broke a bone at work, don't wait to see if the pain goes away.  Tell your employer you got hurt, and contact a workers' compensation attorney.  If you do not tell your employer about your injury when it happens, it can be difficult or even impossible to get money for your injuries.  

In workers’ compensation, the deadlines can be very fast.  It is best not to wait more than a month to contact a workers' compensation attorney. ​

​​Call our workers’ compensation lawyers for a free consultation today

If you were injured on the job, you should talk to a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer as soon as possible.  Call the Law Office of Franklin J. Furlett at 847-352-6226 to talk with one of our Workers' Compensation lawyers.
​The consultation is free! 

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​Law Office of Franklin J. Furlett, Ltd., 335 West Wise Road, Schaumburg, IL 60193
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Please note that the information on this website is not and cannot be considered legal advice.  The website contains advertising information for the Law Office of Franklin J. Furlett.  Reading this website does not create an attorney-client privilege and the materials you are reading are not legal advice.  Please be advised that the Law Office of Franklin J. Furlett and its attorneys cannot be held liable for any statutes of limitations that run out before you talk to an attorney at the Law Office of Franklin J. Furlett.  You as the reader must be aware that if you do not contact an attorney quickly any claims you have may be barred by law.  To contact an attorney at the Law Office of Franklin J. Furlett in Schaumburg, IL to get legal advice, either use the contact form in the navigation panel or call 847-352-6226.