What is meant by lumbar disc herniation?

The lumbar intervertebral disc is located between two adjacent vertebral bodies, with a thickness of 8mm-10mm, which is equivalent to a spring cushion, playing the role of cushioning pressure, and consists of three parts: the nucleus pulposus is the central part, the fibrous ring is the surrounding part, encircling the nucleus pulposus, and the cartilage plate is the upper and lower part, directly connected with the vertebral bone tissue. After the age of 20, the lumbar disc starts to degenerate, the water content of the nucleus pulposus gradually decreases and the elasticity gradually decreases. However, not everyone will have a herniated lumbar disc. The lumbar disc protrudes backward and compresses the nerve roots, causing lumbar pain and radiating pain in both lower extremities, which is called lumbar disc herniation, and often has many other names in medicine, such as disc prolapse, herniated nucleus pulposus, and ruptured intervertebral disc fibrous ring. It is a common and frequent disease in orthopedics, mostly seen in young adults, and can cause serious consequences, such as foot drop, if the disease is not recognized or treated properly.