Arthritis Health Center
Anatomy Guide: Low Back Disorders
Osteoarthritis | Ankylosing Spondylitis | Spondylolisthesis
Herniated Disc
Discs are the cushions between the vertebrae -- the bones -- of your spine. When part of the disk becomes weak, such as from excessive physical strain, the gel within the disc can bulge, protrude, or extrude. This is commonly referred to as a herniated, ruptured, or slipped disc. When this occurs, the nerves from the spinal cord may become compressed, causing back pain and shooting pain down the legs called sciatica.
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD on October 29, 2008
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