Duration Prognosis

The duration of L5 syndrome can vary greatly and depends crucially on the severity of the disease, the response to therapy and the patient’s own will. The earlier the syndrome is recognized, the better the course of the disease.A herniated disc is often successfully treated conservatively and leads in the course of weeks to months to an alleviation of symptoms or even complete recovery. There may be only slight pain, which subsides after a few days.

However, a severe finding can also cause lasting pain and even long-term damage. Back pain in the lumbar region has a high potential to cause discomfort over a long period of time. Important factors that promote chronic pain for more than 6 months are The underlying disease can often be treated conservatively or surgically in a short period of time, but the back pain can persist beyond that.

If there is a tightness in the neuroforamen, surgery is necessary to eliminate the symptoms. Often the affected persons benefit from the operation. If the pain becomes chronic, this has a negative effect on the prognosis. For this reason, pain-relieving medication is indicated to prevent a relieving posture through pain and chronification of the pain.

Lack of muscle and movement
Incorrect postures
Overweight
Frequent, heavy lifting.

Causes

The most common cause of L5 syndrome is a herniated disc. The intervertebral disc is located between two vertebral bodies in order to absorb their impact forces. It consists of an outer ring and a jelly-like mass inside.

In the case of a herniated disc, certain movements and long-term changes in the structure of the disc cause the outer ring to crack, allowing the inner ring to leak out and thus press on surrounding nerves, causing a pain syndrome. More rarely, however, the pressure on the nerve root at the spinal cord can also be attributed to a tumor. Both benign and malignant tumors can grow in the spinal canal and damage important structures.

In addition to tumors consisting of solid tissue, fluid-filled cysts or other fluid accumulations in this area are also conceivable. In principle, tumors or swellings of surrounding organs in the abdominal and pelvic area can also cause a pain syndrome in the spinal column. In addition to foreign tissues, the spinal column itself can also grow and exert increasing pressure on the nerves.

If the spinal cord and nerve roots in the spinal canal are constricted by the vertebral bodies or foreign tissues, this is known as “spinal canal stenosis“. More rarely, however, the cause of the pain syndrome is not directly related to the lumbar spine, but rather earlier in the vascular system. This can lead to vascular constriction and reduced supply to the nerves and spinal cord, which can cause symptoms similar to mechanical nerve irritation.

A herniated disc is the most common cause for the development of L5 syndrome. A herniated disc in the area of the fifth lumbar vertebra and the first cruciate vertebra can damage the nerve root L5, which emerges from the spinal canal between these vertebrae. Over the years, most people in this area suffer from signs of wear and tear of the intervertebral disc due to a combination of low muscle activity and movement and frequent, incorrect loading, such as when lifting heavy loads from the back.

Thus it easily happens that the gelatinous core of the disc bulges out of the surrounding fibrous ring and constricts the spinal canal and nerves. Sensitivity disorders can occur in the area of the inner and rear thigh, the outer rear lower leg, the back of the foot and the outer edge of the foot. In addition to the weakness of the toe lifter muscles, a weakness in the rolling motion of the foot is often noticeable.

Rarely, functional limitations of urinary and intestinal continence may occur, depending on the exact location of the herniated disc. A neuroforamen is an opening of a vertebral body. Each vertebral body has a neuroforamen on the left and right side, which is used for the exit of nerves from the spinal cord.

The neuroforamina form a kind of bony channel along the spinal column. The neuroforamina can be narrowed and exert pressure on the nerves running through them. A constriction in the neuroforamina may be congenital or due to wear and tear. It is a possible cause for the development of an L5 syndrome.