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 The
spine, which is formally called the spinal column,
comprises a series of 24 bones called the vertebrae.
These vertebrae are classified into three
types: 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae
and 5 lumbar vertebrae. The spinal column, when
seen from the front, appears
to be straight, but seen sideways, has an S-shaped
curve. When this sigmoid curvature cannot be maintained,
the ligaments
and intervertebral disks between the lumbar vertebrae
and the muscles around the lumbar part cannot endure
the excessive stress and undue pressure and stimulation
are applied
to the
lumbar nerves.
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| Mechanism
of the intervertebral
disks |
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 The
intervertebral disks, which are located between vertebrae,
serve as cushions that absorb impacts applied to the spinal
column. They consist of a central pulpy nucleus and surrounding
fibrous rings. |
| Backache is caused by a large
variety of factors. |
| Musculofascial
lumbago |
| Holding
the
same
position
for
a long
time
may
cause
stress
on
the
lumbar
part
and
muscular
fatigue
leading
to
lumbago. |
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| Osteoarthritis
of
the
spine |
| As
a result
of
age-related
reduction
of
moisture
in
the
intervertebral
disks,
narrowing
of
the
interval
between
vertebrae
affects
their
edges
and
thorn-like
spurs
appear.
The
compression
of
the
nerves
by
these
bony
spurs
is
a causative
factor
of
pain. |
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| Lumbar
disk
herniation |
| The
pulpy
nucleus
in
the
center
of
the
intervertebral
disk
comes
out
of
the
gap,
compresses
the
nerve
root
and
causes
lumbago,
numbness
and
pain
over
the
lower
extremities. |
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| Osteoporosis |
| Osteoporosis
is
characterized
by
decreased
bone
density.
Decreased
lumbar
bone
density
is
regarded
as
the
causative
factor
for
extreme
bone
fragility,
heavy
feeling
in
the
lumbar
part
and
lumbago. |
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| Lumbar
spondylolysis
(spondylolisthesis) |
| Part
of
a lumbar
vertebra
becomes
separated.
Excessive
physical
exercise
during
puberty
may
result
in
fatigue
fractures
of
part
of
the
lumbar
vertebrae,
leading
to
lumbar
spondylolysis.
If
the
separated
condition
is
left
untreated,
the
lumbar
vertebra
may
move
forward.
This
condition
is
called
spondylolisthesis. |
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| Lumbar
spinal
stenosis |
| Lumbar
spinal
stenosis
occurs
as
a result
of
narrowing
of
the
area
of
the
spinal
canal
and
subsequent
compression
of
the
nerves.
Patients
with
lumbar
spinal
stenosis
experience
numbness
and
pain
in
the
lower
extremities
during
walking.
Pain
disappears
when
they
stop
walking
and
bend
forward,
but
they
experience
recurrence
of
pain
after
starting
walking
again
("intermittent
claudication"). |
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Acute
lower back
pain
When
we try
to lift
heavy
things
or take
a kneeling
position,
we occasionally
experience
acute
and paralyzing
lower
back
pain.
In this
case,
the muscles,
vertebrae
and intervertebral
disks
that
support
the spinal
column
have
been
injured. |
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