Editing Back pain (section)

=== Spinal disc disease ===
Spinal disc disease occurs when the [[nucleus pulposus]], a gel-like material in the inner core of the vertebral disc, ruptures.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book|title=Harrison's principles of internal medicine | vauthors = Jameson JL |isbn=978-1259644030|oclc=1041928452|date = 2018|page=| publisher = McGraw-Hill Education }}{{Page needed|date=February 2021}}</ref> Rupturing of the nucleus pulposus can lead to compression of nerve roots.<ref name=":18">{{cite book | vauthors = Donnally III CJ, Hanna A, Varacallo M | chapter = Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease|date=2020| chapter-url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448134/|title = StatPearls|place=Treasure Island (FL)|publisher=StatPearls Publishing|pmid=28846354|access-date=2021-01-29 }}</ref> Symptoms may be unilateral or bilateral, and correlate to the region of the spine affected. The most common region for spinal disk disease is at L4–L5 or L5–S1.<ref name=":18" /> The risk for lumbar disc disease is increased in overweight individuals because of the increased compressive force on the nucleus pulposus, and is twice as likely to occur in men.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite book | work = National Center for Biotechnology Information |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279472/ |title= Slipped disc: Overview |location=Bethesda, MD|date=2020 |publisher=U.S. National Library of Medicine, Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG)|language=en}}</ref> A 2002 study found that lifestyle factors such as night-shift work and lack of physical activity can also increase the risk of lumbar disc disease.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Elfering A, Semmer N, Birkhofer D, Zanetti M, Hodler J, Boos N | title = Risk factors for lumbar disc degeneration: a 5-year prospective MRI study in asymptomatic individuals | language = en-US | journal = Spine | volume = 27 | issue = 2 | pages = 125–134 | date = January 2002 | pmid = 11805656 | doi = 10.1097/00007632-200201150-00002 | s2cid = 30267765 }}</ref> [[File:Disc herniation -- Smart-Servier.png|thumb|Lumbar disc herniation]]

Severe spinal-cord compression is considered a surgical emergency and requires decompression to preserve motor and sensory function. [[Cauda equina syndrome]] involves severe compression of the [[cauda equina]] and presents initially with pain followed by motor and sensory.{{Clarify|date=July 2022}}<ref name=":17">{{cite journal | vauthors = Orendácová J, Cízková D, Kafka J, Lukácová N, Marsala M, Sulla I, Marsala J, Katsube N | display-authors = 6 | title = Cauda equina syndrome | journal = Progress in Neurobiology | volume = 64 | issue = 6 | pages = 613–637 | date = August 2001 | pmid = 11311464 | doi = 10.1016/S0301-0082(00)00065-4 | s2cid = 27419841 }}</ref> Bladder incontinence is seen in later stages of cauda equina syndrome.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gardner A, Gardner E, Morley T | title = Cauda equina syndrome: a review of the current clinical and medico-legal position | journal = European Spine Journal | volume = 20 | issue = 5 | pages = 690–697 | date = May 2011 | pmid = 21193933 | pmc = 3082683 | doi = 10.1007/s00586-010-1668-3 }}</ref>