Jeff Langmaid (YouTube video) summarizes recent research showing that lumbar disc herniations traditionally considered to cause peripheral (foraminal/lateral recess) nerve root compression and radicular pain can also influence the central nervous system. The speaker contrasts conventional peripheral compression mechanisms with emerging evidence of central nervous system involvement.
There have been a variety of recent research studies that have highlighted that lumbar disc herniations not only affect the peripheral nervous system. When we think about those foraminal compressions, lateral recess stenosis. Foraminal stenosis, it's kind of that peripheral compression. It is compressed at that segment and then the pain travels along that dermatome sclerotome. However you want to define it, it radiates or is radicular down wherever that nerve root travels. But there is new research highlighting that that there can be influence not only on the peripheral nervous system, but also on the central nervous system anytime a lumbar disc herniation is present.
