Changes in gait can be from disorders that would fill this entire website so specifics are needed (foot drop gait, antalgic gait, Trendelenberg gait, circumduction gait, etc…).
Hemangiomas are naturally occurring in the vertebral bodies and are generally not a worry.
Your sister has mild degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1. There is minimal compression of the nerves and generally, nerves can take moderate compression before they become symptomatic so it is unlikely that the gait disturbance is from nerve compression.
Does she have severe lower back pain that causes her to demonstrate an abnormal gait? If not, her gait disorder is more likely not originating from the lumbar spine.
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.
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.