Lumbar disk herniation occurs when one of the cushioning disks between the bones in the lower back becomes damaged, allowing the soft inner material to push outward. A disk herniation itself may not cause symptoms, and studies show that many adults have positive findings on MRI without pain. However, when a herniated disk irritates nearby nerves, it can lead to localized low back pain and/or symptoms like sharp, shooting pain into the leg. Traditionally, pain and disability related to lumbar disk herniation have been attributed primarily to nerve compression. However, more recent research suggests a more complex picture—one in which…
