Spinal Disorders

A lumbar disc herniation occurs when the soft inner core (nucleus pulposus) of an intervertebral disc pushes through its outer ring (annulus fibrosus) and compresses a nearby nerve root. It is most common at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels and is a frequent cause of sciatica — pain radiating from the lower back into the leg.

A cervical disc herniation occurs when a disc in the neck region protrudes and compresses a nerve root or the spinal cord. It is most common at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels and typically causes pain radiating into the arm, with numbness and weakness.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal or nerve-root canals in the lower back. It most often develops from degenerative (age-related) causes and is characterized by leg pain that worsens with walking and eases with rest (neurogenic claudication).