Does having an extra vertebrae cause problems?

Having one extra lumbar vertebra provides no advantage or disadvantage to the individual and is rarely a cause of back problems, but it can create some confusion. For example: Radiologists commonly count down from the last rib when numbering the lumbar vertebral bodies.

Why do I have an extra vertebrae in my lower back?

The extra bone is essentially just a harmless anomaly; sometimes it’s because one vertebra failed to fuse with another, but in other cases it’s unclear why the bone appeared. L6 vertebrae don’t grow overnight. If you have the condition, you’ve always had it.

How common is it to have 4 lumbar vertebrae?

The prevalence of 6 lumbar vertebrae was 0.8\% (n = 23), and the prevalence of 4 lumbar vertebrae was 1.8\% (n = 54).

How many lumbar vertebrae should you have?

Exercises can strengthen the core muscles that support the spine and prevent back injuries and back pain. The spine has three normal curves: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. There are seven cervical vertebrae in the neck, 12 thoracic vertebrae in the torso and five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back.

Is Bertolotti’s syndrome common?

What Is Bertolotti Syndrome? Italian physician Mario Bertolotti lent his name to this congenital, common condition. It’s found—with or without lower back pain—in 10 to 20 percent of the population.

How rare is Bertolotti’s syndrome?

The syndrome affects 4\% to 8\% of the population [1]. BS is characterized by anomalous enlargement of the transverse processes of the most caudal lumbar vertebra, which may articulate or fuse with the sacrum or ilium and cause isolated L4-5 disc disease.

Is an extra lumbar vertebrae genetic?

While only around 10 percent of adults have a spinal abnormality due to genetics, a sixth lumbar vertebra is one of the more common abnormalities.

What is it called when you have an extra vertebrae?

Most people have five vertebrae in their lumbar (lower back) region, which are named L1 to L5. However, some people possess an additional lumbar vertebra located below the L5. This extra vertebra, known as the L6, is called a transitional vertebra.

Is lumbar spondylosis arthritis?

Technically, spondylosis is a form of arthritis—spinal osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis) to be exact. We tend to think of arthritis as something you get in your hands and knees, but the spine, and all of its bones and joints, can fall victim to its grip as well.

What is an extra lumbar vertebrae called?

Function of the L6 vertebra Most people have five vertebrae in their lumbar (lower back) region, which are named L1 to L5. However, some people possess an additional lumbar vertebra located below the L5. This extra vertebra, known as the L6, is called a transitional vertebra.

Is it bad to have an extra vertebrae?

The general consensus is that an extra vertebrae does not affect either spinal health or the overall health of the individual. In some very rare cases, the L6 vertebrae can become fused with another vertebral bone at the top of the sacral region and this may cause back pain.

Are people with an extra spinal bone more prone to back injuries?

If the spine is less stable, then it is more susceptible to injury when a stress is placed upon it. I therefore feel that a person with an extra spinal bone is usually more prone to low back injury and should take an extra degree of caution when placing stress on his spine. On the other hand, there are people with only four spinal bones.

Do you have an extra lumbar vertebrae in your spine?

In almost all cases, no treatment is required if you have an extra lumbar vertebrae in the spine. Nor does a 6 th vertebrae increase the odds of someone suffering from a spinal cord injury. In fact, most people will not even notice that they have this particular anomaly. When Spinal Abnormalities Could Potentially Cause Health Issues

Does having an additional vertebra increase the risk of spinal cord injury?

An additional vertebra does not increase the odds of suffering a spinal cord injury since the additional vertebra is in essentially the same spot as L5. Moreover, injuries to this vertebrae are unlikely to cause complete immobility since the injury is so low.