During treatment for lower back pain, your healthcare team may use some medical terms that you do not understand. When this happens, don’t be afraid to ask for a definition. You can also use this glossary to look up terms commonly used in association with the IDET* procedure and lower back pain.
acute (ah-CUTE) — Temporary or relatively brief; describes lower back pain with self-limited episodes lasting no more than 6 weeks without resolution. Opposite of chronic.
ankylosing spondylitis ( ang-key-LO-sing spon-dil-LIGHT-iss) — Arthritis of the spine that resembles rheumatoid arthritis;
ankylosis means stiffening or fixation of a joint with fibrous or bony tissue buildup across the joint.
anulus fibrosis (AN-u-luss fi-BRO-sis) — The tough, fibrous outer layers of cartilage that surround the soft central nucleus pulposus of the disc.
atlas — The topmost of the cervical (neck) vertebra, C1.
axis — The second cervical vertebra, C2, upon which the head rotates.
cervical vertebrae (SER-vick-uhl)— The 7 vertebrae along the back of the neck.
chronic (KRON-ick) — Long-lasting; describes lower back pain that persists for 3 months or more despite a thorough exploration of nonoperative therapies such as rest, pain medications, and physical rehabilitation.
coccyx (KOK-six) — The 4 fused vertebrae at the base of the spine, believed to be leftover parts of a tail from an earlier stage of our evolution. There is no disc between the coccyx and the sacrum.
computed tomography — Also called a CT scan. This imaging procedure takes a number of pictures inside the body using a computer linked to an x-ray machine.
contraindication ( con-trah-in-dih-CA-tion) — Any symptom or circumstance that makes the use of a drug, device, or procedure inadvisable.
disc decompression — The technique of reducing pressure within the disc by reducing the volume of nuclear material inside the disc.
disc nucleoplasty (noo-klee-o-PLAST-ee) — The suffix “plasty” means molding or shaping. The nucleoplasty procedure decreases the volume of tissue in the disc nucleus to restore normal disc shape and reduce pain-provoking pressure inside the disc.
disc replacement — Surgical removal of an intervertebral disc (discectomy) and replacement with a synthetic disc.
discectomy (disk-ECK-to-mee ) — Surgical removal of an intervertebral disc.
discogenic (disk-o-GEN-ick) — Originating in the intervertebral disc, as in discogenic pain, which originates from nerve endings inside the outer layers of a spinal disc.
discography (dis-KOG-rah-fee) — Technically, the injection of a reactive dye into the disc nucleus and visualization of the disc interior by x-ray. See provocation discography.
facet joint (FASS-ett) — The facet joints consist of bony projections from the top of a vertebra, the concave receptacles in the vertebra immediately above in which those projections fit, and the intervening cartilage and lubricating fluid.
fluoroscopy (floor-OS-ko-pee) — Seevideo fluoroscopy
herniated disc (HER-knee-ay-ted) — Also known as a slipped disc or prolapsed disc; prolapse usually refers to when the weakened disc anulus bulges out between the adjacent vertebrae but remains intact; if it encroaches on a nerve it may cause pain. In herniation, the disc nucleus bulges through a tear in the anulus. The terms slipped disc, herniated disc, and prolapsed disc are used interchangeably and without distinction by some sources.
indication — A medical basis, such as a symptom or medical condition, for recommending or initiating a treatment, test, or procedure.
intervertebral (in-ter-VER-tuh-bral) — Between two vertebrae; the position of the spinal discs is intervertebral.
kyphosis (key-FO-sis) — Abnormally pronounced curvature of the thoracic spine, also called “hunchback.”
lumbar (LUM-bar) — Of or pertaining to the lower region of the back, including the 5 lumbar vertebrae and the 6 intervertebral discs among them.
lumbar spinal fusion — The practice of removing a disc from the lumbar region of the spine and fusing the two adjacent vertebrae together into a single unflexing unit.
magnetic resonance imaging — Also called an MRI. An imaging procedure that takes pictures of inside the body using a powerful magnet linked to a computer. Magnetic resonance imaging is usually able to produce better images than CT scans or x-rays. It is particularly good at imaging the spine.
motion segment — Any two adjacent vertebrae and the disc between them; the points of flex in the spine; spinal fusion renders a motion segment rigid and inflexible.
nucleus pulposus — The gel-like mass located at the center of intervertebral discs.
osteoarthritis — Arthritis characterized by erosion of cartilage; caused by trauma or other conditions; cartilage becomes soft, frayed, and thinned, resulting in pain and loss of function; mainly affects weight-bearing joints and is more common in older persons.
prospective study — A study that states what the objectives of the study are before acquiring patients.
provocation discography — The diagnostic procedure of injecting a fluid substance, often contrast dye, into the intervertebral disc to raise pressure inside the disc in an effort to provoke the patient’s usual back pain, thereby confirming discogenic pain.
radiofrequency lesioning — A treatment for lower back pain that uses electricity to numb nerves that conduct the sensation of pain.
randomized study — A comparison study in which patients are assigned randomly (by chance) to separate treatment groups. Randomized studies use a “control group,” a group that does not receive the new treatment being studied. Using chance and control groups helps ensure that the different groups can be compared objectively.
retrospective study — A study that looks backward (retro) into patient records or case histories with the goal of making observations and drawing conclusions about patients or a disease or treatment all the patients had in common. For example, researchers may look at case histories of all patients at a particular hospital during the last 5 years.
sacrum (SAY-krum)— Five fused vertebrae that form a single spinal structure between the coccyx and the lumbar vertebrae; an integral part of the pelvis.
scoliosis (sko-lee-O-sis)— Abnormal sideways and rotational curvature of the spine. There may be one curve or primary and secondary curves; fixed scoliosis is the result of muscle and/or bone deformity; mobile scoliosis is caused by unequal muscle contraction.
spinal fusion — The practice of removing a disc and fusing the two adjacent vertebrae together into a single unflexing unit.
spinal stenosis — Narrowing of the holes in the vertebrae through which nerves and the spinal cord pass. This narrowing places pressure on nerve roots.
spondylolisthesis ( spon-dill-o-liss-THEE-sis) — Forward movement of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae on the vertebra below it or upon the sacrum.
thoracic vertebrae (thor-AS-sick VER-tah-brah) — The 12 vertebrae in the middle region of the spine to which the ribs are attached.
video fluoroscopy (floor-OS-co-pee)— Real-time x-ray visualization using a television camera for image detection and a video monitor for display.
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