Herniated Disc
(Slipped Disc)
Disks, which have a rigid
outside rim and a soft gel-like center, act as a shock
absorber and protect the spinal cord. Activity or stress in
the spine can cause a disk to bulge. The damaged disc may
irritate a nerve root.
Disk Degeneration
As
the body ages, the discs in the spine dehydrate, and lose
their ability to act as shock absorbers. Pain occurs when
these discs begin to pinch nearby nerve roots or spinal cord.
Sciatica
Most likely to become irritated by a herniated disc, the
sciatic nerve travels through the pelvis and buttocks, down
the hip, back of the thigh and to the foot. The pain of
sciatica ranges from a mild tingling to a sharp ache server
enough to cause immobility.
Lumbar Spinal
Stenosis
Degeneration of the spine also can
result in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). This disease involves
a narrowing of the canal that houses the spinal cord and nerve
roots. A narrowed spinal canal may compress nerve roots in the
lower back, resulting in pain and weakness in the legs and a
dull pain in the lower back.
Spondylolistheseis
A condition
characterized by the slippage of a vertebra in the spine. One
vertebra slips forward over another, pinching the nerve and
causing pain.
Diagnosing Low-Back
Pain
Physicians evaluate low back pain through
a medical history, a physical exam and diagnostic tests. While
many options are available, Fonar's new standing MRI is the
most accurate in detecting disc herniations.
