LUMBER

Common lumbar and sacral symptoms and conditions include: Disc Herniation Disc Degeneration Sacroiliac Joint (SI Joint) Dysfunction Sciatica Scoliosis Spinal Stenosis Spondylolisthesis 1)Disc Herniation What is a herniated disc? The intervertebral discs lie between the vertebral bodies. They consist of a gelatinous, elastic core (nucleus), which is kept in shape by a surrounding fibre ring (annulus). Over the course of normal aging processes or by overloading it, cracks in the fibre ring may occur. Parts of the nucleus pulposus may then be pushed out through the annulus and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated disc. What causes a herniated disc? A sudden rotational movement of the trunk or heavy lifting can cause a herniated disc. It can also be the result of poor posture in daily life (for example, incorrect sitting or permanent and long-lasting driving), lack of exercise or dehydration. If there is not enough liquid available for the body, also the disc will dry out – and it will lose its elasticity. Other risk factors for a herniated disc are obesity, pregnancy, or a general weakness of connective tissue. 2)Disc Degeneration Degenerative disk disease is when normal changes that take place in the disks of your spine cause pain. Spinal disks are like shock absorbent between the vertebrae, or bones, of your spine. They help your back stay flexible, so you can bend and twist. As you get older, they can show signs of wear and tear. They begin to break down and may not work as well. Nearly everyone's disks break down over time, but not everyone feels pain. If worn-out spinal disks are the reason you're hurting, you have degenerative disk disease. Although occasionally leg pain and stenosis symptoms will come on acutely, they generally develop over the course of several years. The longer a patient with spinal stenosis stands or walks, the worse the leg pain will get. 3)Sacroiliac Joint (SI Joint) Dysfunction Dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint, also called the SI joint, can sometimes cause lower back and/or leg pain. Leg pain from sacroiliac joint dysfunction can be particularly difficult to differentiate from radiating leg pain caused by a lumbar disc herniation (sciatica) as they can feel quite similar. For decades, the sacroiliac joint was suspected as a common cause of low back and/or leg pain, although difficulty in accurate diagnostic testing left many in the medical profession skeptical. Today it is estimated that the sacroiliac joint is responsible for 15% to 30% of lower back pain cases. 4)Sciatica Several lumbar spine (lower back) disorders can cause sciatica. Sciatica is often described as mild to intense low back pain that travels into the left or right leg. Sciatica is caused by compression of one or more of the 5 sets of nerve roots in the lower back. Other terms used to describe sciatica include sciatic neuralgia or sciatic neuropathy. Sometimes doctors call sciatica a radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a medical term used to describe pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms or legs caused by a nerve root problem. If the nerve problem is in the neck, it is called a cervical radiculopathy. However, since sciatica affects the low back, it is called a lumbar radiculopathy. 5)Spinal Stenosis Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs through a tunnel formed by your vertebrae. The tunnel is called the spinal canal. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower part of your back. Stenosis, which means narrowing, can cause pressure on your spinal cord or the nerves that go from your spinal cord to your muscles. Spinal stenosis can happen in any part of your spine but is most common in the lower back. This part of your spine is called your lumbar area. Five lumbar vertebrae connect your upper spine to your pelvis. If you have lumbar spinal stenosis, you may have trouble walking distances or find that you need to lean forward to relieve pressure on your lower back. You may also have pain or numbness in your legs. In more severe cases, you may have difficulty controlling your bowel and bladder. There is no cure for lumbar spinal stenosis, but you have many treatment choices 6)Spondylolisthesis Spondylolisthesis causes correlate to the type of spondylolisthesis: Isthmic Spondylolisthesis is often due to repeated microfractures that can occur from continual heavy lifting or certain sports. Degenerative Spondylolisthesis often occurs from chronic degenerative disc diseases such as arthritis, and results in weakness in part of the neural arch at the posterior of the vertebral body. Traumatic Spondylolisthesis, as the name indicates, stems from a traumatic injury to the spine or from a post-surgery complication. Dysplastic Spondylolisthesis originates from abnormal cell growth before birth. Spondylolisthesis can be asymptomatic