Slipped disc

Slipped disc is another term for degenerative spondylolisthesis. It is a condition in which one vertebra slips forward onto the one below it.

This usually occurs because the back part of the slipped vertebra is not connected to the body the way it should be. In adults, the most common cause is a degenerative disease (such as arthritis) and the slip usually occurs between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae (L4 and L5).

Symptoms can include lower back pain, pain in the thighs and buttocks or tenderness in the slipped area. Leg weakness or numbness can result from pressure on nerve roots and can cause pain to radiate down the legs. Other causes of spondylolisthesis include stress fractures (caused by repetitive hyper-extension of the back, commonly seen in gymnasts) and traumatic fractures.