Medical

Back Pain

Disc Space Narrowing

Degenerative Disc Disease

There are five lumbar vertebrae located in the lower back. These vertebrae receive the most stress and are the weight-bearing portion of the back. The lumbar vertebrae allow movements such as flexion and extension, and some lateral flexion. The 5 lumbar vertebrae are represented by the symbols L1 through L5, from the higher bones to the lower.

Vertebrae

The vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are those bones which compose the spine. There are 33 of them (at birth) including the five that are fused to form the sacrum, and the four coccygeal bones.

The 24 remaining are divided into:

Seven cervical vertebrae.
Twelve thoracic vertebrae.
Five lumbar vertebrae.

In my case L1 through L5 (all lumbar vertebrae) and S1 (sacrum) are involved.