Table of Contents
What is the endplate of the spine?
A vertebral end plate is the transition region where a vertebral body and intervertebral disc interface with each other. A vertebral end plate is commonly described as consisting of 2 layers: Cartilaginous layer (also called cartilaginous endplate) that fuses with the disc.
What does endplate degenerative changes mean?
2 When endplates begin to deteriorate, inflammation increases and lesions can develop. Studies have found evidence that such lesions on endplates in the lumbar region of the back are associated with low back pain. 3 In its advanced stages, endplate degeneration is called endplate sclerosis.
What is your endplate?
The end plate is a bilayer of cartilage and bone that separates the intervertebral disks from the adjacent vertebrae (Fig. 1A to C).
What can you do for degenerative changes in the spine?
Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen the right muscles to help the back heal and reduce the frequency of painful flare-ups. Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your posture, losing weight or giving up smoking, can sometimes help reduce stress on the damaged disc and slow down further degeneration.
Is arthritis and degenerative disc disease the same?
Degenerative joint disease is just another name for osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis – and it occurs when the components of a joint wear down. So whether we call it degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis, or arthritis, we’re really talking about the same condition.
Is the endplate part of the disc?
Strictly speaking, the vertebral endplate is not considered to be part of the disc, but it is included in this section because it plays an important role in the health and structure of the disc (Moore, 2006).
What nerves are affected by L3 L4?
If a nerve is trapped at L2 or L3 or L4 this will affect the femoral nerve (as seen below) and we suffer from femoral nerve impingement which provides both feeling and power to the front of the thigh. Therefore we experience pain in this specific anatomy.
Where is the L3 in the spine?
lumbar
The third bone down in your lumbar, or lower back area, the L3 is the central bone in this region. Like the other lumbar vertebrae, this bone carries a substantial role in bearing the weight of your torso.
What are the symptoms of L3 nerve damage?
When the L3 spinal nerve is involved, the following symptoms may occur:
- Sharp pain, typically felt as a shooting and/or burning feeling that may occur in the thigh and/or inner part of the leg.
- Numbness in the thigh and/or inner part of the leg.
- Weakness while moving the thigh and/or knee in different directions.