Low back pain can arise from a variety of structures in the lower back. When symptoms include pain, tingling, numbness, and/or burning that radiates into the buttock, thigh, calf, or foot, a potential cause may be injury to one or more intervertebral disks. These disks function to stabilize the lumbar spine, absorb forces, and facilitate its range of motion.
The lower back is comprised of five lumbar vertebrae separated by intervertebral disks positioned in the anterior portion of the spinal column. The nucleus pulposus is a gel-like structure in the center of the disk that provides much of the strength…
