Radiculopathy or nerve impingement refers to a condition in which the spinal nerve roots are irritated or compressed. Many people refer to it as having a “pinched nerve.” Lumbar nerve impingement indicates that the nerve roots in the lower spine are involved, while cervical radiculopathy is associated with nerve roots in the neck. Nerve impingement is most often caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.
Stenosis refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal, usually in the lower back (lumbar) region. This narrowing is often a result of the normal degenerative aging process. It occurs as the discs of cartilage that separate the spine’s vertebrae lose water and the space between the vertebrae becomes smaller, causing friction between the bones.
The loss of water in the discs makes them less flexible and unable to act as shock absorbers in the spine. Daily wear and tear on the spine become more significant without these shock absorbers.
The spinal vertebrae are separated by flexible discs of shock-absorbing cartilage. These discs are made of a supple outer layer with a soft jelly-like core (nucleus). If a disc is compressed, so that part of it intrudes into the spinal canal but the outer layer has not been ruptured, it may be referred to as a “bulging” disc. This condition may or may not be painful and is extremely common.
Herniated discs are often referred to as “slipped” or “ruptured” discs. When a disc herniates, the tissue located in the center (nucleus) of the disc is forced outward. Although the disc does not actually “slip,” strong pressure on the disc may force a fragment of the nucleus to rupture the outer layer of the disc.
Degenerative disc disease is a general term applied to back pain that has lasted for more than three months. It is caused by degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs in the spine and can occur anywhere in the spine: low back (lumbar), mid-back (thoracic), or neck (cervical).