Extra Lumbar Vertebrae

I have this issue and even after umpteen X-rays, MRI's, a CT scan and spinal fusion, over a period of 40 years it was only recently that a doctor noticed the extra vertebrae!

Hi, I also have the genetic variation of the 6th vertebra. I was diagnosed when I was a teenager (13-14 years) and now I am 30. The pain have not really increased and I learned it is just about being patience. I mostly do my normal life, however the orthopedist recommended a couple of exercises for my lower back. Alternatively I started to do yoga and it really helps. Basically it is about exercising your lower back in order to make it stronger, apparently this condition only affects if you really want to do heavy work (lifting heavy things without caring, and not moving properly) but aerobic exercise or common sports are not a problem at all, you just need to pay attention to warm up carefully and to do the proper movements to avoid rely only onto your lower back/pelvis. The best alternative is to ask to your doctor for adequate exercises for your body, and no, you don't need any type of surgery. The only thing that you have to avoid is to keep it cold for long time, such as being uncovered in very humid and mildly cold places. I went trough several studies and I have no other reason for my back problems, thus if you cannot control it with exercise you are suffering from additional causes. Tip: I live in the Netherlands thus is very easy for me, but biking is a good alternative to continue doing you normal, while it is almost impossible to walk straight when the pain comes, biking it is not.

Hi Liz!

I've just learned literally this morning that I have a partially developed 6th vertebrae. Yay for being super unique! I have never really had too much of a problem, nothing too serious. However I have had lower back spasms from time to time since I was young (am 23 now) and the most recent spasm was what got me thinking I might check out a chiropractor. They took xRays and showed me what's what in my back today. The Dr. Told me it looks like my partial extra vertebrae has fused in with the rest of my sacrum so it isn't really a problem however it does pinch some other stuff so that might be what has caused those spasms from time to time. This makes me think that if you have a partial, or a full extra vertebra that is NOT fused in completely with the rest of your sacrum, that might be what causes your pain.

I've just been told that I have an extra vertabrae also. And I've had lower back pain for as long as I can remember, however the extra vertebrae is not the cause. I did have sciatica, which the radiating pain you mentioned could be. But the cause of my back pain was caused by my pelvic bone being out of wack... And my back was compensating for it... So get it checked out, a chiro did the job for me

Although I am a doctor, i have never been to one to look into this issue but i suspect that i may have an additional vertebrae or two. I suspect this because of my long torso. I have had issue with my back throughout my life but have only come to this suspicion recently. I would like to throw in some common sense before we get all mixed up in medical and scientific things. i dont see any reason as to an extra vertebrae directly causing any kind of pain. But commom sense would tell us that the longer a vertical column, the more issues it would have in terms of stabilitY. Therefore we should take extra care in maintaing good posture with strenthening and flexibility exercises to the appropriate areas. 

I also have an L6, but I just found this out 5 days ago. I have had lower back pain for 9 years, comes and goes, and ranges from mild to so severe that I am unable to walk (this level of pain is RARE but I have been there for about the last week, where it has NEVER lasted this long). It likes to choose which side of my back it likes to reside in (never both sides, always one or the other) and then radiates down into my leg. I went to a new Chriopractor last week, one that FINALLY, after 9 years, took and x-ray. I have an L6, occulate spina bifida between L6 and S1, all of my disks are out of alignment, and one vertaberae (I think it is L4) that is roated, as well as mild to moderate disk erision. I am only 25, and it is irritating to know that the other individuals that I had been going to for treatment all assumed that because I was an athlete and worked on a ranch that it was just stress on my back and a minor misalignment. My chiro told me that the L6 was not likely the cause of my pain, but did make me more susceptable to lower back issues due to decreased stability. Basically, I am at the point where if I do not continue treatment and really work at it, I will have back surgery within the necxt 10 years.

However, I have done chiropractics and physical therapy in the past, and it has worked WONDERS. After going through it, I only was in need of mild adjustments every now and then for about 5 years. Now, however, it is back with a vengence. If it works for you, keep with chiro and physical therapy, and make sure that you ARE doing the exercises that they teach you at home on the days when you are not at appointments. Also, adding things like dance and yoga that helps with building core muscles and promoting good posture.

I also have a 6th lumbar. I went to a chiropractor and he was able to pop mine back into alignment. He told me to sleep, one week out of the month, with a pillow under my back. Since then I have not had and as many issues with my back. He also informed me on how to pop my back into alignment. All you have to do it cross your ankles together and then slowly pull your knees apart. There has to be tension in your lower back before it will pop. Most have to do this standing up.

Hi I've always thought I was the only one they called it " a mutant" vert. but I've had a L5-6 vert. since 2008 it's very painful and I get shooting pain down my legs that end up giving the feeling of them going to sleep ( pins and needles) for about two hours after shape pain...this sucks for me daily....but I've got an alternative method of pain help I went to all the acupuntior and chiropractor's you could fill the grand canyon with them I also have been red flaged on my meds. cause the doctors now a days dont work for you but only worrie about them selfs so I got in touch with a natropathic doctor and she suggested Medical Marijuana and with that she also prescribed Tramidol ( not a narcodic ) its allot like baby vicodin.....that mixed with lage amounts of fish oil ( for inflamaiton ) all I do is eat a cookie or smoke a small amount in the morning with the Tramidol and just keep taking small hits through out the day and I can funtion enough to play with my kids and help my wife clean house so I say its a win... not to mention that it does help with the depressition so what cause if you are as messed up as me theirs a whole lot of it....please let me know if this helped at all it will help you with out killing you're liver from all the extra pain killers you are taking.

 

I am 41 years old and found out that I to have a extra vertebrae in the lower back and upper neck and Facet Joints sydrome.  After 8 years of pain from a back injury.They are final doing something about it, But The doctors said the treatment they are going to do by burning the nerves will only calm down the pain to a point but not take it away complete. 

I to have been dealing with a 6th vertebrae and have seen so many chiropractors and physical therepists, have had x rays and ultrasounds, just about everything short of getting an mri done or seeing back specialists. I am currently going to a chiropractor you suggested an 8 week 3 times a week plan and I am half way done and still don't really feel much relief! Of course he suggested orthodicts which I will try but I am a runner and this is preventing me from doing that like I used to and want to!!! When does it get to the point where I should go see a back specialists or have an MRI? I have tried to get them to do an MRI but no one will. It frustrating! I can't work out like I want to, can't sit or stand for very long periods of time and sleeping is tough too!!

When I was 15 I was told that I have a 6th Lumbar vertebrae, and that it was the reason why I have back pain. In my case, whenever I stand for a long time, or sit, or stay still, it will cause pain. There are times when I can't even move because of the pain, it actually shows in my walk, is so painful that I can't even stand straight. I was also told that I have flat feet, and that if I ever wanted to have children, my life will be in danger, that I could ended it up in a wheel chair or worse. Because I was afraid of all that I never went to seek a second opinion. But now that I found this place, I feel like I should. I'm glad that Im not the only one with this kind of problems.

The pain that stretches from lower back to legs is the result of the suppression of the Sciatic nerve. In my case, it was because I have flat soles. The pain in my legs was imminent and unbearable. I now wear insoles and have no nerve pain. However, I do have the sixth vertebra, hyperlordosis and obviously, occasional 0lower back pain...

Yes I Have an Extra Lumbar Vertebrae I Have L1 -L6 ans Am Disabled Due to Acute and Chronic Lower Lumbar Strain that Happened in 1983, I went through 4 months of PT and Released . Told by a Therapist to Take it easy on My Back from then on. Fast Forward to June 2007 I Had Suffered from Debilitating PAIN of Unimaginable Intensity for 10-15 years. Did NOT like Doctors But Came to the Point in 2006 when I Was Hospitalized for ITP A Blood Platelet Disorder that Almost Killed me, (I Almost Bled Out) from a Kidney.After that I was Given Pain Meds that allowed me to work for another Year Until I Just Could NOT Take the Pain Anymore, I then took a Med Leave from Work for a More Extensive Diagnosis of mt Lower Back Pain. Spine Specialist Told me that I was one of the worse Cases He had Ever Seen. I had Herniated Disc at L3-L5-L6 One Disc was Protruding into the Vertebrae Canal that Accommodates a Large Nerve that Goes to My Lower Left extremity. After More PT, Traction (PAINFUL Procedure) and Many Many Injections, They Concluded that With My Blood Problem Surgery Was NOT An OPTION and Medication was the Only way to relieve My Pain. AND that My Career In Heavy Truck Fleet Mechanics ( That was MY LOVE) and Life Work for 20 = years WAS OVER,and I COULD NEVER WORK AGAIN. That was by Far the LOWEST Moment of my Life that I am Still Recovering from. I have tried to Work many times sence Only to end up unable to get out of the bed for DAYS. All can Say is DO NOT IGNORE OR PLAY MACHO MAN WITH LOW BACK PAIN, GET IT LOOKED AT IMMEDIATELY. And YES the Pain is such that a Cough, A Sneeze, A Bowel movement,FAST MOVEMENT, ALL of this Causes Sevier Pain. I Reached for a towel after Shaving and that Brought me to my Knee's. Years ago Simply Lifting a Rimless tire from my trunk Put me down for w week. It Is Much WORSE than The DOCTORS even Know, It is Inadvisable and Debilitating, I Hate it because No one Questions the Pain of a Traumatically Visible Injury as Painful, but I Always Feel as if I am Looked upon as A DRUG ADDIC, A LIAR, Or A LAZY SCUMBAG and None of these I Am...The Life I Live Now is Pathetic, and Only a Total Nutcase would Choose to Live this way.. I went to the Doctor For Help to get Back to Work, I Never Dreamed i Would end up Like this,... I Hope this Gives you some Insight on what it can do to you or Ratifie what you may Be experiencing, If you ARE then My Heart goes Out to you and GOD Bless you !! P.S. Surgery In all of My RESEARCH Is a %)/%) Shot I have read a Lot of Horror Stories and SOME but Few Sucess Stories about Back Surgery... AGAIN MAy GOD BLESS YOU !!

I just found out that I also have an L 6 and I have a lot of pain with it. I'm looking for info also, good luck and god bless.

i have the same problems, i recently had a mri that shows i have spondylolsithesis of the lumbar l5 and sciatica pain that runs from my buttocks to the back of my thigh to the front of my leg down my leg to my foot. when i si to long i hurt in my lower back , when i sleep i have to turn myself because im never comfortable, when i try to get up in the morning or from my bed or a sitting position i hurt so bad i cant even straighten my back upward. bending over a little pain its coming back up hurts bad. when im sitting to long i can feel the pain like electricity going down my leg, and the pain in my buttocks feels like a sharp pain that hits me so hard wow i freeze thats how bad it paralize me. and dont forget to tell you about how my legs spasms all the time especially when im trying to rest or if im sitting to long, i even have spasms in my lower back, so yes i know exactly what you are going through.