Various Forms of Low Back Pain
Back pain refers to pain any where from the area of the neck to the tailbone. The back includes the bones of the spine (vertebraee), the joints that guide the direction of the movement to the spine, the discs that separate the vertebrae and absorb shock as a person moves, and the muscles and ligaments that hold them all together. Back pain may be caused by an injury to one or more of these structures, or it may have nothing to do with an injury. For our purposes we will deal only with the lower or lumbar area.
Herniated Disc. Many times this is called a ruptured or bulging disc. Herniated discs are caused by aging or degeneration of the disc (degenerative disc disease) or injury to the spine. Disc disease may result from tiny tears or cracks in the outer shell (capsule) of the disc. The jellylike material inside the disc (nucleus) may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule. This causes the disk to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments.
The herniated disc itself generally does not cause pain, the pain is usually caused when the disc presses against a nerve, and the nerve becomes inflamed and swelling occurs causing the associated pain.
Sciatica is a symptom frequently associated with a lumber herniated disc. Pressure on one or several nerves that contribute to the sciatic nerve can cause pain, burning, tingling, and numbness that extends from the buttock into the leg and sometimes into the foot.
Our Back Pain Table provides a motorized exercise that through compression and decompression of the lumber vertebrae, plus moving the spine in an anterior or forward motion on the compression stroke, and a posterior or rearward motion on the decompression stroke, helps bring an increased blood flow to the area to help flush away the irritating toxins that may accumulate in tissues as a result of muscle spasm and disc injury.
By using our Back Pain Motorized Table for as little as two times a day for 15 minutes each time, your back pain can be decreased significantly or eliminated completely and remember the results of Back Pain Table are guaranteed or the cost of the machine will be returned to you with no questions asked (less S&H). As with any exercise you should check with your physician prior to starting. Remember the only thing you have to lose is your back pain.
Treatment Options for Ruptured Discs in the Low Back as published in spineuniverse.com
Herniated Discs
In disc herniations, the L5-S1 disc is involved 45% to 50% of the time, L4-5 40% to 45%, and L3-4 about 5%. Disc herniation at the other lumbar levels is rare. The root compressed is the one exiting the level below the disc in the vast majority of cases. However, if the herniation is lateral, i.e., into the foramen, then the root compressed will be the one exiting above. This is known as a far lateral disc herniation and occurs in about 3% to 10% of cases. It is also important to note that while the signs outlined in Table 1 are helpful in the diagnosis and decision making regarding type of treatment, not all of the signs and symptoms associated with a root may be present in an individual, and multiple root signs may even be present.
Herniated Disc. Many times this is called a ruptured or bulging disc. Herniated discs are caused by aging or degeneration of the disc (degenerative disc disease) or injury to the spine. Disc disease may result from tiny tears or cracks in the outer shell (capsule) of the disc. The jellylike material inside the disc (nucleus) may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule. This causes the disk to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments.
The herniated disc itself generally does not cause pain, the pain is usually caused when the disc presses against a nerve, and the nerve becomes inflamed and swelling occurs causing the associated pain.
Sciatica is a symptom frequently associated with a lumber herniated disc. Pressure on one or several nerves that contribute to the sciatic nerve can cause pain, burning, tingling, and numbness that extends from the buttock into the leg and sometimes into the foot.
Our Back Pain Table provides a motorized exercise that through compression and decompression of the lumber vertebrae, plus moving the spine in an anterior or forward motion on the compression stroke, and a posterior or rearward motion on the decompression stroke, helps bring an increased blood flow to the area to help flush away the irritating toxins that may accumulate in tissues as a result of muscle spasm and disc injury.
By using our Back Pain Motorized Table for as little as two times a day for 15 minutes each time, your back pain can be decreased significantly or eliminated completely and remember the results of Back Pain Table are guaranteed or the cost of the machine will be returned to you with no questions asked (less S&H). As with any exercise you should check with your physician prior to starting. Remember the only thing you have to lose is your back pain.
Treatment Options for Ruptured Discs in the Low Back as published in spineuniverse.com
A shooting, stabbing pain that shoots from your back or buttocks into
your leg is called sciatica or radiculopathy. It can be associated with
numbness or weakness of your leg and foot. The most frequent cause of
this condition is a ruptured disc in the lower back. in this article, we
review disc problems of the lower back, also known as lumbar disc
disease. Most reptured discs respond to nonsurgical treatment. When this
does not work, back surgery may be necessary.
The content of this article addresses the anatomy, pathology, diagnosis,
treatment options, and care for the patient who suffers from pain
secondary to lumbar disc herniation.
Anatomy of the Lowback
The lumbar spine is made up of the last five vertebrae of the spine. The vertebrae are the bones of the spine. Their function is to provide support and protection to the spinal cord. The facet joints allow the vertebrae to be linked. They provide mobile connections between each vertebra. An intervertebral disc sits between each individual vertebra. The annulus is the outer ring and is the strongest part of the disc. It is responsible for connecting the vertebrae. The nucleus pulpous is the soft, inner portion. This material is about the consistency of crabmeat and is responsible for the shock absorption properties of the spine.
The nerve roots of the spine carry signals between the lower extremities and the brain that allow us to move our legs and perceive sensations such as touch, temperature, and pain. To better understand how the parts of the spine affect each other, we sometimes focus on a spinal segment. A spinal segment is composed of two vertebra, the intervertebral disc between, and the two nerve roots that exit from that spinal level, one from each side.
The inervertebral discs have cartilaginous endplates at the top and bottom and are surrounded by the annulus. Through degeneration or injury, the fibrous tissue (annulus fibrosus) constraining the soft disc material (nucleus pulpous) may tear. This may result in bulging (protrusion) of the disc or even extrusion of disc material into the spinal canal or neural foramen. This condition has been called herniated disc, ruptured disc, herniated nucleus pulpous, or prolapsed disc.
The lumbar spine is made up of the last five vertebrae of the spine. The vertebrae are the bones of the spine. Their function is to provide support and protection to the spinal cord. The facet joints allow the vertebrae to be linked. They provide mobile connections between each vertebra. An intervertebral disc sits between each individual vertebra. The annulus is the outer ring and is the strongest part of the disc. It is responsible for connecting the vertebrae. The nucleus pulpous is the soft, inner portion. This material is about the consistency of crabmeat and is responsible for the shock absorption properties of the spine.
The nerve roots of the spine carry signals between the lower extremities and the brain that allow us to move our legs and perceive sensations such as touch, temperature, and pain. To better understand how the parts of the spine affect each other, we sometimes focus on a spinal segment. A spinal segment is composed of two vertebra, the intervertebral disc between, and the two nerve roots that exit from that spinal level, one from each side.
The inervertebral discs have cartilaginous endplates at the top and bottom and are surrounded by the annulus. Through degeneration or injury, the fibrous tissue (annulus fibrosus) constraining the soft disc material (nucleus pulpous) may tear. This may result in bulging (protrusion) of the disc or even extrusion of disc material into the spinal canal or neural foramen. This condition has been called herniated disc, ruptured disc, herniated nucleus pulpous, or prolapsed disc.
Herniated Discs
One of the more common problems of the lumbar spine is a herniated disc.
In this condition, a tear in an annulus fibrosus allows the nucleus
pulpous to squeeze into the spinal canal. If a nerve root is compressed
by the disc material, there can be pain, numbness, and weakness in the
areas supplied by the nerve (often down the back of a leg). It is not
unusual for the back itself to be painless, or nearly so. Accordingly, a
herniated lumbar disc characteristically produces buttock and leg pain
but not back pain per se. This pain is termed radiculopathy or sciatica.
If sensory function of the impinged nerve root is impaired, numbness will result. The exact area of numbness is determined by the particular root, and may be in the big toe, the heel, the outer ankle, the outer leg, or a combination of these. Impairment of motor function of the root will cause weakness which again depends on the particular root.
If sensory function of the impinged nerve root is impaired, numbness will result. The exact area of numbness is determined by the particular root, and may be in the big toe, the heel, the outer ankle, the outer leg, or a combination of these. Impairment of motor function of the root will cause weakness which again depends on the particular root.
| Disc Level |
Root Comp. |
Weakness | Reflex Involvement |
Sensory Loss |
Pain Distribution |
| L3-L4 | L4 | quadriceps, tibialis anterior |
knee jerk | medial knee and shin |
anterior thigh |
| L4-L5 | L5 | extension of big toe |
no significant | big toe | back of thigh, lateral calf |
| L5-S1 | S1 | gastrocnemius (ankle plantar flexion) |
Achilles | lateral foot and heel |
back of thigh and calf |
In disc herniations, the L5-S1 disc is involved 45% to 50% of the time, L4-5 40% to 45%, and L3-4 about 5%. Disc herniation at the other lumbar levels is rare. The root compressed is the one exiting the level below the disc in the vast majority of cases. However, if the herniation is lateral, i.e., into the foramen, then the root compressed will be the one exiting above. This is known as a far lateral disc herniation and occurs in about 3% to 10% of cases. It is also important to note that while the signs outlined in Table 1 are helpful in the diagnosis and decision making regarding type of treatment, not all of the signs and symptoms associated with a root may be present in an individual, and multiple root signs may even be present.
