Lumbar disk disease

mechanical deterioration of one or more intervertebral discs in the lumbar area of the back, generally related to aging or trauma, leading to mislocalisation of the disc and pressure on the adjacent spinal nerve

Description
Symptoms of lumbar disk disease may include intermittent or continuous back pain (possibly worsened by movement, coughing, sneezing, or standing for long periods of time), spasm of the back muscles, sciatica, muscle weakness in the legs, numbness in the leg or foot, decreased reflexes at the knee or ankle, changes in bladder or bowel function. Accurate diagnosis can be difficult and often requires interpretation. Treatment is controversial. Surgical treatment can be technically simple and professionally gratifying for the surgeon. Treatment failures are not uncommon, are often related to posttraumatic or work-related injuries, and may result in litigation. As a consequence, this disease can generate distrust of physicians on the part of patients and vice versa.