Not all lumbar herniated discs cause low back pain

Abstract

After a long series of terms used to define the displacement of disc material (either the nucleus pulposus or the fibrous ring), herniated discs were classified as bulging, focal protrusion, extrusion and sequestration. Herniated discs represent from 1% to 3% of all causes of low back pain. However, not all herniated discs are necessarily symptomatic: the presence or absence of symptoms depend on the size, location and extent of the herniated disc material in relation to the spinal canal, and whether or not it compromises the nerve roots. Several studies using magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans were performed during the 1980s and 1990s to asymptomatic individuals, and a significant number of these individuals who did not have any type of pain had disc protrusion and bulging.

Keywords

• Heniated disc
• low back pain
• intervertebral disc displacement