Lumbar Ligament Sprain-degeneration and Prolapsed Lumbar Intervertebral Disc: A Frequent Missed Combination

Low back pain (LBP) is a frequent complaint in the working milieu of pain physicians. Common LBP generators are the lumbar spine, soft tissues around the spine, and intra-abdominal viscera; however, in recent times, lumbar spine ligament (LL) degeneration is increasingly getting more coverage as an important LBP source. Among various LLs, interspinous and supraspinatus ligaments’ sprain-degeneration can perpetuate localized central LBP as described in the present case study. Localized LL sprain-degeneration in association with radiating LBP from prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID) compressing adjacent nerve roots might further impair a patient's quality of life. In the present report, we describe both LL sprain-degeneration and PLID (a dual source of LBP) in a 26-year-old Bangladeshi woman; physicians often fail to notice this combination in their regular clinical practice.