The lumbar spine is in your low back and consists of 5 large-sized vertebrae (labeled L1-L5). The large size makes it possible for them to support the entire weight of your head, torso and spinal column (think of the Eiffel tower which is skinny at the top and broad at the bottom). They are also important because, unlike the thoracic spine, the lumbar vertebrae are not attached to the ribs and thus can generate quite a bit of your trunk motion.

The lumbar spine is highly mobile and because of this it is prone to degenerative conditions:

-Lumbar Disc herniations: Disc herniations occur when part of the jelly-like substance in the intervertebral disc (the structure that cushions the vertebrae) ruptures back into the spinal canal. They can pinch nerves causing severe leg pain otherwise known as sciatica.

-Lumbar Stenosis: stenosis means narrowing. When you have spinal stenosis you have narrowing of the spinal canal. Lumbar stenosis causes narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal which can pinch off nerves. This can result in leg and low back pain, numbness, weakness of the legs and difficulty walking (known as neurogenic claudication).

-Lumbar Spondylolishtesis: this is a fancy medical term for a slipped disc, or a condition where one vertebra shifts forward abnormally on the one below it. This can cause back pain and lumbar stenosis (see above).

Is Lumbar Surgery for you? Download the surgery decision aid below: