Herniated Lumbar Disc: A Primer

Recently I was diagnosed with what is called an L4-L5 herniated disc. If you are not familiar with this terminology; this means that in your lower (lumbar spine), between the lumbar vertebrae number 4 and the lumbar vertebrae number 5, the disc is "ruptured". When a vertebral disc is ruptured; not always, but often this can cause really intense pain.

Vertebrae anatomy 101:

Your spine or vertebral column consists of 33 bones. The cervical spine (neck) consists of seven (C1-C7), the thoracic spine (chest) has twelve (T1-T12), lumbar spine (lower back) has 5-6 (L1-L5), sacrum (pelvis) has five (S1-S5) which are fused and finally the coccyx (tailbone) has 3 vertebrae which are not labeled as the other vertebrae.

In between each vertebra from C1 to just above S1 is a disc; known as an intervertebral disc. Our intervertebral discs are made of a spongy, gel-like material that acts as a cushion for our vertebrae. Without these discs our vertebrae would grind or hit each other when we move; along with causing the vertebrae to pinch nerves. Not to mention all of these parts come together to protect our spinal nerve (column).

With our spinal anatomy in mind; think about what happens when one of those discs ruptures. Not only can this cause your nerves to be irritated by the pressure caused from the inner parts of the disc spilling out; but this condition can also cause severe muscle spasms and inflammation of the surrounding ligaments and other soft tissue.

In my case; according to the radiologists who read my MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), I have a "large herniation at L4-L5". The rupture spilled more to the left; so my left side is affected more than my right. Instead of my L4 nerves being affected, my L5/S1 nerves have become irritated. This causes not only pain in my back, but also pain to radiate down my back side, through the buttocks, wrap around the hip/pelvic region and travel down the front of my leg into my foot. At times the pain is so intense my big toe on my left foot hurts.