You have a reported “extra vertebra” in your lower back. This could be a sacralization of L5 or a lumbarization of S1. When we are in utero, the sacrum is actually 5 separate pieces of bone and fuses together when we are a fetus. Sometimes, the message gets confusing and the L5 vertebra might try to fuse to the sacrum or vice versa.
Typically, this “extra” level is stable and not capable of becoming painful. There are rare circumstances that a joint called a transverse-alar articulation between these segments can cause pain, but this is unusual.
You need an MRI of your back and a consult from a good spine specialist.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
