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Herniated Disc L5-S1

A herniated disc L5-S1 is a bulging or ruptured intervertebral structure located at the juncture between the lumbar spine and the sacral spine. This lumbo-sacral region is the location which endures the most intervertebral movement during our daily activities and is also the location of the most noticeable early degenerative disc disease (laughably named…). Although many patients are diagnosed with a dorsopathy syndrome based on an L5/S1 pathology, this diagnosis is most often wrong, leading to the common occurrence of misdiagnosed herniated disc pain and years worth of wasted and inappropriate treatments.

What is a Herniated Disc L5-S1?

L5/S1 is the disc which separates the lumbar spinal region from the sacrum. It is also called the lumbo-sacral disc. This disc, along with L4/L5, bears the brunt of the forces imposed upon the spine during normal and extraordinary movement. It is completely expected that people will demonstrate significant disc degeneration in these levels by the age of 30 and often, much younger. Lifestyle and genetics also come into play in determining how much degeneration will exist at any given age. One thing is for sure… The structure of the spine has dealt with spinal degeneration in this region for countless millennia and has only recently begun to be blamed for causing the modern epidemic of back pain which seemed to completely elude our ancestors.

Herniated Disc L5-S1 Information

The L5/S1 intervertebral level is theorized to be implicated in painful symptomologies through the processes of foraminal stenosis, also called pinched nerves, and spinal stenosis (although at this level, the spinal cord is not in existence, but instead, has already separated into the individual nerve structures of the cauda equina). It is certainly possible for herniated discs to cause pain through these processes, but these events are obvious and not open to the interpretation and speculation involved in 99% of diagnosed pain syndromes. In reality, most herniations do not impinge upon anything which is inherently painful, or encroach on any space which needs to be fully preserved. This includes the incredibly common diagnostic terms of “impinging on the thecal sac”, “narrowing the foraminal space” or “possibly effacing the L5 or S1 nerve root”. Experience and medical research has conclusively shown that these events often coincidental are not the real reasons for most back pain conditions…

Herniated Disc L5-S1 Advice

The L5/S1 level often herniates. It endures so much trauma in doing the most normal things and it is well documented that disc degeneration facilitates herniations. To be diagnosed with this condition should not be a shock; it should instead be an expectation... Learn the facts about herniated discs and stop blaming this diagnosis for chronic pain. If it were the actual source, you would know it for sure and the doctor would be able to successfully treat it easily, even it is meant using an invasive procedure. This does not represent your experience now does it? No, I did not think so… Mine either. Instead, we have blamed this disc for our pain, despite the fact that a variety of treatments have failed. This is due to one simple and irrefutable fact… The diagnosis is WRONG.

Herniated Disc L5-S1 to Herniated Disc Home
12/15/09