Lumbar Herniated Disk

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Lumbar Herniated Disk

As the human body begins to age the disks in our back will start to break down and degenerate making them prone to disk herniation. A spinal disk may become herniated as well due to traumatic injury. When the soft inner gel pushes through the outer capsule of a spinal disk in the lower back it is called a lumbar herniated disk. It may also be referred to as a low back herniated disk or a lower back herniated disk.

When a herniated lumbar disk occurs and the bulging gel pushes up against a nerve root causing compression pain along with numbness and tingling can be felt in the buttocks and down the legs. Where the symptoms of herniated lumbar disk are felt is dependent on which nerve is being compressed.

The two places that are most prone to lumbar disk herniation are the L4 - L5 Spine segment and the L5 - S1 segment. L stands for Lumbar and S stands for Sacral. The numbers identify the disk in the spine section. Lumbar herniated disk in these area place pressure on respective nerves L5 and S1 triggering the painful symptoms in the patient’s lower extremities.

Symptoms that may be felt with a lumbar herniated disk are dependent on the nerve being compressed. Below are the two most common pinched nerves and the symptoms that will be produced:

L5 Nerve - When a herniated lumbar disk places pressure on this nerve symptoms of weakness in the big toe and sometimes the ankle often begin to show. Numbness and pain are often felt on top of the foot and occasionally there is pain that will radiate into the buttocks of the patient.
S1 Nerve - When a herniated lumbar disk pinches or compresses the S1 nerve, ankle reflex starts to diminish. A weakness in ankle push strength will also be present in most cases. Radiating pain, numbness and tingling will be present in the leg and the sole of the foot.

Lumbar Herniated Disk Treatment

The usual treatment for any form of herniated disk, including a lumbar herniated disk, starts with resting the affected area, often combined with anti-inflammatory medicine. Treatment will become progressively more aggressive if the lumbar herniated disk does not show signs of improvement. In or around the sixth month mark, if there is no sign of improvement and the patient’s lifestyle is being affected by it, surgery will often be discussed.

It is important that you seek a professional diagnosis and begin treatment in the early stages of a lumbar herniated disk. The long you wait the more chance there is of permanent nerve damage due to nutrient and oxygen deprivation.

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