Q & A by Spine Specialist | Dr. G

Ask Dr. G | Spine-Health Questions & Answers





Dr. Gangavalli from Spine & Orthopedic Center presents commonly asked questions and answers by his patients regarding their spine-health. Britney from Deerfield Beach asks “ Why do I have pain in my leg if I was diagnosed with a herniated disc?” Lumbar spine has several boney segments called the Lumbar Vertebra. They sit like building blocks on top of one another and In between these building blocks are “Intervertebral discs.” These discs are soft, pliable and allow for lumbar motion. Additionally, they provide a spacing between the lumbar vertebra. This spacing is very important because of a lot of the nerves in the lumbar spine each corresponding to a different level in your legs goes through these spacings. When lumbar discs degenerate, they often lose their height and apply pressure or can herniate a fragment which causes damage or puts pressure on an existing lumbar nerve root, and that nerve root can become damaged and irritated, which results in a radiating type pain pattern that often goes to one side of the body or both, into the buttocks, thigh, ankle, foot & toes. This can often manifest as burning, numbness, tingling and sometimes weakness. This is known as lumbar radiculectomy or also commonly known as sciatica.

View more on Dr. Gangavalli here.

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