Of all the symptoms you may be looking out for after experiencing a car accident, numb toes are probably unexpected. It might seem odd that a back injury or whiplash could cause your toes to lose feeling, but you’d be surprised to learn that it’s common in many cases. Your spinal column’s job is to protect your nervous system and support your whole body, all the way down to your toes. When you hurt your back, it can impact the nerves that stretch throughout your body and tells it what to do and feel. If your nerves are impacted, numbness in the toes and feet can be one of the first signs of this damage. Having your nerves evaluated by a doctor can determine the root of the problem and help restore communication between your spine and your toes!
Herniated Discs as a Cause of Toe Numbness
One of the most common back injuries sustained in a car accident is a herniated disc, which can also be a major cause of numbness in the toes. This happens because a herniated disc directly affects your nerves.
You may have heard the term “slipped disc” to describe the same phenomenon- when one of the discs between vertebrae slips out of place. These cushions are intended to keep the bones of your vertebrae from rubbing together, reducing friction. When the disc is knocked out of place by an impact like a car crash, the bones can rub together and cause pain. The moved disc also often presses against the nerves near your spinal column, preventing the nerve from communicating properly with the rest of your body. For certain nerves, that may mean your feet and toes.
Causes of Herniated Discs
Herniated discs can be caused by a variety of situations, but accidents of many sorts are common reasons for this injury. Some of the common accidents that cause this problem are included below.
Car Accident Injuries – If you have been in an accident and are experiencing numbness in the feet and toes, a slipped disc is likely one of the first things your doctor will look for, along with concussions and whiplash. The same force that may cause whiplash or other car accident injuries can jostle the spine enough to cause damage to the spine and move your discs out of place. If the disc then places pressure on a nerve, it may be causing your numbness and tingling.
Sports Injuries – Any contact sport or strenuous physical activity can also lead to a herniated disc. A football tackle at the right angle or a basketball player twisting too quickly can cause enough damage to the spine to cause a slipped disc. If you are often involved in sports, any injury can cause herniated discs that lead to uncomfortable symptoms if not treated properly. A herniated disc that is not addressed may prevent you from playing sports again in the future.
Bending or Lifting Injury – Whether you are weightlifting or need to lift moving boxes, there is a risk of herniated a disc. Many people use improper bending techniques and poor posture that make you more likely to suffer from this injury. If you expect to be lifting anything heavy, you should make sure you understand the safest ways to do so, and weightlifting should be done with a trainer’s supervision. Using proper posture and bending with your legs help you to avoid back strain and the likelihood of injury.
Sciatica After a Herniated Disc
When a disc is herniated in the right location, it can lead to sciatica. This is a specific type of pain that occurs when the sciatic nerves in your lower back are compressed or put under pressure. This is known to cause numbness and tingling not only in the toes, but also up the back of your legs. Because car accidents occur while you’re in a sitting position, it’s likely that a slipped disc could affect your sciatic nerve and lead to this sort of pain.
Treating any spinal injuries early after your accident can help prevent you from suffering more serious injuries like sciatica which is why it’s important to know which doctor to see after a car accident. Numbness in your toes may be an early sign that this treatment is necessary and should always be evaluated by an accident doctor.
