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Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease that occurs when the immune system attacks bones, ligaments, and joints. This inflammation can cause changes in the spine over a long time, resulting in back pain and less movement in the joints of the spine. People who have ankylosing spondylitis can also have back or hip stiffness that gets better after moving around. Although there is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, there are many treatment options to manage pain and stay active.

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Cauda equina syndrome, a rare disorder affecting the bundle of nerve roots (cauda equina) at the lumbar (lower) end of the spinal cord, is a surgical emergency. It occurs when the nerve roots in the lumbar spine are compressed (squeezed), cutting off sensation and movement. The nerve roots that control the function of the bladder and bowel are especially vulnerable to damage. Without immediate treatment to relieve pressure, it can result in a range of serious problems.

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A herniated disk (or ruptured disk) is a condition that can occur anywhere along the spine, but most often occurs in the lower back. A disk begins to herniate when its jelly-like nucleus pushes against its outer ring due to wear and tear or a sudden injury. It is one of the most common causes of lower back pain, as well as leg pain, or sciatica. Although a herniated disk can be very painful, most people feel much better with just a few weeks or months of nonsurgical treatment. 

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Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common cause of low back and leg pain, or sciatica. As we age, the normal wear-and-tear effects of aging can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal, which houses the spinal nerves and spinal cord. This puts pressure on the spinal cord and the spinal nerve roots, and may cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs. Arthritis is the most common cause of spinal stenosis. 

Learn more: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Sciatica is a very broad term describing nerve pain, not a specific diagnosis. Sciatic pain occurs when the nerve root in the lumbar spine is compressed, such as by a herniated disk or narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis). You may suddenly start feeling pain in your lower back or hip that radiates to the back of your thigh and into your leg. 

Learn more: Sciatica - Causes & Treatment

Spinal fractures from osteoporosis most often happen in the spine. These spine fractures — called vertebral compression fractures — happen about 1.5 million times every year in the U.S. They are almost twice as common as other fractures linked to osteoporosis, like hip fractures and wrist fractures. Not all spinal compression fractures are caused by osteoporosis. But when they are, the fracture is often the first sign that a person has weak bones. 

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Spinal fractures related to trauma can vary widely in severity and treatment. They can be caused by a high-energy trauma, such as a motor vehicle collision; or a low-energy event, such as a minor fall, in an older person whose bones are weakened by osteoporosis. Most spinal fractures occur in the thoracic and lumbar spine, or at the connection of the two (called the thoracolumbar junction).

Learn more: Fractures of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine

In spondylolisthesis, one of the bones in your spine — called a vertebra — slips forward and out of place. This may occur anywhere along the spine, but is most common in the lower back (lumbar spine). In some people, this causes no symptoms at all. Others may have back and leg pain that ranges from mild to severe.

Learn more: Adult Spondylolisthesis in the Low Back