Our spine, from the top of the neck to the lower back, is made up of small segments of bones called vertebrae.
Between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc, or discs. The discs basically act as shock absorbers. They have a tough outer shell and a soft centre which allows the disc to have the flexibility required to cushion the spine from shock.
When significant forces are applied down the spine these discs can rupture causing the material which makes up the soft centre of the disc to be displaced. This is what is commonly called a slipped disc.
Where the displaced spinal material presses on a nerve ending this can cause severe pain in the back or in the leg. It can cause tingling and numbness (paraesthesia).
There is some controversy as to whether or not the forces involved in a road traffic accident could cause an entirely healthy disc to prolapse.
There is however, no doubt that if there already is a weakness in a disc but where there has been no prolapse, then the forces involved in a road traffic accident can be enough to cause the disc to prolapse at that weak spot.
When that happens, the effects of the road traffic accident in terms of daily living, pain and employment can be very severe indeed.