6 lumbar vertebrae? please help
I went to my chiropractor today after have low/mid back pain for about a week that is constant and burning. I have never had back pain in my life at the age of 25 until now. Anyway I had went to the doctors because I was recently diagnosed with severe osteoporosis caused by what I just found out was hyperparathyroidism. anyway I thought that maybe I had a fracture the doctor said the xray was fine and sent me home with more drugs of course which they always believe is the answer. My chiropractor took an xray and said I have 6 lumbar vertebrae and there are 3 pressure points where the spine curves. Anyway instead of getting the laser treatment from him like I have for other things he did an adjustment and said I would need a few more. he said the extra vertebrae was the problem and it could reoccur? Is this possible that thats whats causing it or does anyone know anything about this I would greatly appreciate the help! THX -AMANDA
34 comments
Jason
i have just had an xraym and have the same result. I need to go into the MRI for a scan now. What happened to your 6th bone ?? 🙂
Anthony
I was just told by my doctor… I have a 6th lumbar vertebrae…and I am experiencing back problems. Is this usual? Is it a problem?
Ben
The person who is reading the report are not couning the lumbar. I have back surgury in 06 the chiropractic I frist when to seen andtold me that I had 6 lumbars, after months going to the chirop, And seen that I was not getting any better and toldme to see a back doctor. I did and the older doctor seen it to OLDER DOCTORS know what to look for. The group of Doc, he was with refer me to another one in his group That to look out that I have 6 lumbars. The disk betweeen L4 L5 have blow, after removeing part of the blowd parts of the disk,everything when fine. Then I injury my back and have a fusion. The Doctor did the l5 L6 or some would call a full S1 disk or L6. The Doctors cover each otherback along with Radiology. No one will come foward to say the Doctor did the wrong disk.IM not good at trying to write about this buy if you like you can me and I’ll tell you more what
I’m going throught with the here. I’m going to have another back surgury in Jan 2020. E-mail me back then I’ll give you my number. If you like. I know what you are going throught about Doc lie’s
Sandra
I also have a 6th lumbar vertebrae. Everywhere I read or look they say that this abnormality is not supposed to cause any symptoms or problems, but I have been suffering from lower back pain for years and I am only 25. I have gone to different doctors and all say they don’t know why I am having this pain. They offered to give me cortizone injections in my lower back but I refused. I don’t want to be a guinea pig when they don’t know what is causing my pain. It comes and goes, sometimes I go months without any back pain, and then it comes back and for days I feel like I can’t stand up straight.
You aren’t the only one.
irene
I have it too, and yes my chiropractor said that most people with “The extra vertebrae” have back problems. The only advise I have for you is avoid back breaking activities, such as digging, shoveling, lifting anything heavy,etc. I’m sure you know what they are.
Stella
I had a week of severe back pain of which I’ve never experienced. I was prescribed an antiinflammatory and a muscle relaxant which in combination seemed to work well for me as it hasn’t come back. It’s naproxen and cyclobenzaprine. I too have the 6th lumbar vertebrae.
Traci
I’ve also got a 6th lumbar vertebrae. It was discovered after I was in a terrible auto accident 25 years ago. Since that time, I have had a “bony protrusion” growing on the left side of my lower back. It has been surgically removed three times, but continues to reoccur.
I’ve suffered severe back pain for the last 25 years. Recently I found a new pain management doctor, who has actually studied my problem (gasp/ a real doctor who wants to know WHY I hurt, instead of one telling me that I don’t hurt at all).
New x-rays I had done last week show that the “bony protrusion” is actually the L6 vertebrae, and it is growing sideways to the left. It is a huge plate of bone that has actually partially fused with my illium (hip bone). It appears that I have broken this bone multiple times during the normal course of daily motion. It explains why my pain is so very intense at times that I can’t breathe, and why after about 2 months I feel better for a while. Then it seems to break again, at the place where it wants to grow to the illium. Then I have two broken bone edges that rub against each other until they begin to knit again. And then it breaks again.My doctor doesn’t know how to fix this. He is contacting surgeons, but not having any luck so far.
Has this happened to anyone else? If so, was it fixed? How? At this point I am living my life on pain pills which only help a little. I am in almost constant pain and now afraid to do simple things like walk or sweep a floor. Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated.
darrin
1 in 2010 my doc said but we are’nt freaks! (so says he). So tell me then why the back pain? Anyone else have schuermans disease?(softening of the spine during puberty) Diagnosed with early symptoms when I was a kid but they say it got better?
Cathy
I have had lower back pain off and on for all my life. Just last year I saw a chiropractor who X-rayed my back and found the extra lumbar vertebra. He said that w/o it I’d be a 1/2 inch to one inch shorter. My extra vertebra, as someone else also mentioned, is fused to the hip bone on one side. I had always wondered why I had a curved hump at a just above my buttocks. When I’m in pain, the hump area looks bigger (probably edema?). If I rest and take it easy and the pain subsides, the hump goes down. However, it never goes away. The chiropractor said he can’t do much to fix it. I think I’ll try another chiropractor. I definitely don’t want sugery but wish that there were some way to adjust it so it didn’t hurt and did not protrude. When I get massages, they always notice the protruding area and ask me about it.
Marie
I too have an L6 and I was told by an Australian doc that it’s definitely genetics and there’s nothing anyone can do about it because of the lack of study. It’s not a significant enough problem, I guess. Anyway, I have lost my ability to walk and stand at one point in my life after having my first child. The pain was very intense. I have to be careful how I stand, walk and sit. The Ausi doc also told me not to sit on both sides of my sensored, meaning, sit on half a sensored cheek to relieve the pressure on the spine. I did this for a while and it actually worked, but I have since gotten laxed about it and stopped. I’m in constant pain, but seem to have just dealt with it through my whole life. Whatever surgery is available is purely experimental. Also, be careful who you let treat you, i.e. chiropractor and/or doctor because they can make your life hell. I learned the hard way and had a doc not listen to my problem and complaints. I ended up in severe pain with the circulation in my legs and feet cut off because the chiropractor didn’t have the experience in the condition. Good luck.
Chris
I was told today that I too have a 6th lumbar vertabrae. I have always had a high pain threshold and have been very active and athletic. I have had low back pain off an on for over twenty years but just thought I had ‘overdone’ it from time to time. Earlier this month I had been standing for about 7 hours a day lecturing and have not been used to doing this for prolonged periods. I woke up last week and could hardly move. This is day 10 and I am just now starting to move around a little better. From all the posts, it seems plausible that there are some striking similarities for lower back pain in those of us with an L6. My medical doctor did not pick up on this. I was prescribed a pain reliever and muscle relaxer. My chiropractor is suggesting some PT, walking, and abdomenal exercises to strengthen my back muscles. My greatest difficulty at this point is standing for periods over 20 minutes. I find the greatest relief by pulling my knees to my chest.
Best of luck to all.
Lexy
I have the 6th lumbar, fused to the sacrum, with the bony extension on one side trying to fuse or already fused to the hip, or near it. I also herniated L5 or L4 in 2014.My advice for what it’s worth. Do every kind of exercise that you can – Aikido, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, bot NOT yoga. Start out SLOWLY.Don’t do any of the ditch digging, bent over type activities – even washing your car and bending over is not good.See a good chiropractor – I’m seeing Dr. Brian Graham in Seattle. Use adjustments to unfreeze your back, try to stay away from surgery (for some people it helps-but shouldn’t be your first choice), only do pain killers temporarily and check out the new machine called the DRX-9000. It can heal herniated disks.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. I’m active and well and full of health, happiness and hope. You can get better, I did. It’s just that you will have to maintain yourself – physically and with maybe monthly visits for adjustments.
Best of luck to you all.
Ed
I too have been diagnosed with an L6 vertabrae. I am a 32 year old male. I had transient lower back pains and flare ups throughout my 20’s. Looking back, with medication, exercise, and patience, these flare ups would resolve. Toward my late 20’s the pains were felt more frequently until the pain became constant. As others have eluded to, I beleive my pain threshold has grown over time and while I know it is there, I just try to go on with the pain. For years I beleived it to be a consequence of my job which involved wearing a heavy protective lead vest and apron in the cath lab. I was further confused by the fact that I could continue to exercise like I always had and not be affected too much from day to day. I finally reached my limit of patience with this pain and got referred to a spine clinic. The surgeon diagnosed the L6 and gave a similar prognosis and treatment plan to the ones I’ve read from all of you. You begin with the least invasive treatments available. I sarted with a PT referral and Ibuprofen 800mg three times daily for pain and inflammation. PT gave me 2 exercises to work the psoas muscle and the gluts. I have only recently gotten compliant with the PT regimen recommended to me but I seem to think it has made SOME improvement. The Ibuprofen dose MUST start at 800mg. Much less than that does not provide a therapeutic antiinflammatory effect. You might also ask your doc if an antacid is appropriate to prevent ulcers or GI bleed. From there, you could consider epidural steroid injections, facet injections, and finally surgery involving fusion of the vertabrae. I was told that surgery is never a “slam dunk” sort of procedure. It is +/- 70% successful at best. Like others have said, stay active, exercise as much as is tolerable for you, avoid those back bending motions, watch lower back posture, etc.
Amber
I was diagnosed with a L6 when I was 18 after being in a car wreck. I am now 30 and have been having major back problems for the past 5 to 6 years. You MUST avoid standing for prolonged periods of time. I have been seeing the same chiropracter this entire time. I have found that having Electrical Stimulation (E-stemm) has worked MIRACLES!!!!!! Ask your chiropractor about it. If you don’t have one, GET ONE!! Ask people you trust about who they go to because it can be very dangerous and risky if you don’t know who is working on your back. You can have an E-stemm machine prescribed to you by your family doctor. That way, you can hook it up whenever you are hurting. Or you can be put on the machine when you visit your chiropractor. It really, really works for me.
Rob
Hey everyone, I just had a consultation with a chiropractor the other day after some nagging low back pain. This pain would come and go and sometimes be gone for many months at a time but recently has been more noticeable. I’m 23 by the way. I was told and shown on X-ray that I have a 6th lumbar vertebrae. It is is non-fused and I’m told is not terribly uncommon and not to worry about it. We will see after a few more adjustments by the chiropractor.
Trisha
I too have the 6th lumbar, and an enlarged transverse on my left side. I had a bone scan 10 yrs ago and that’s when they found it. All the doctor suggested was to be careful as I am extra flexable and to try not to sleep on my tummy. Well!! Recently up to a few months ago, I’d been managing my pain pretty well. I have a very physically demanding job, and my back held up. Now both my hips are so painful I thought I had bursitis, and had a x-ray done of my hips and lower back. It came back that I now have DDD and advanced arthritis in my lower back where my extra vertebre is. I was so upset by this news. I’m 32 and my doctor told me when she looked at my xrays it was of a 45 yr old woman. I was devestated. I keep in shape, and I”m really stron, but this pain is killing me. So can anyone suggest anything?? Really anything at all???
Jane
Well, I guess I’m another one with a 6th lumbar. I’m 56 and just finding out why my lower back is weak and the first thing to ache when I’m tired or have overdone in some way. I have been seeing Chiropactors for over 20 years and they use the Palmer method, which I seem to get relief from. I do not take medication, once in a while Advil. However, no one ever looked close enough at my Xray to explain to be about the 6th lumber. From what I was told, it should have fused with the lower section, but instead created another lumbar to match and make up for the non-fusing. I’m on maintenance and as long as I see the Chiropractor once a month I survive well. At first you do need to go more often until the relief comes and then maintain. Good luck to all of you
Charlotte Ellam
Hi, I’m 18 yrs old & found out a few months ago (via an MRI scan) that I have a sixth lumbar vertebrae. I have had lower back aches and pains for a few yrs so went to see an Osteopath. It all started when my Osteopath told me that my pelvic bone had slipped out of place by 1.5cm (so one leg was 1.5cm shorted than the other). The pelvic bone continued to slip and move for months and months so I kept going back to the Osteopath to receive manipulation treatment. The osteopath couldn’t tell if I had 6 lumbar vertebrae until I had the MRI Scan. I’ve been told that due to the 6 lumbar, my pelvis is alot more unstable and likely to slip than people who haven’t got this. I have asked my doctor to refer me to a Spet but he didn’t understand my problem at all and couldn’t see how my pelvic bone could just slip naturally, without me having an accident or anything! So I’m still seeing the osteopath regularly for treatment. I’m working part time at work as I’m unable to sit for long periods of time without being in agony.
Has anyone got any more info on this please as I’m not getting anywhere with anyone? Thanks. Charlotte
Kristin
Hello. I am 27 yrs old and also have a 6th lumbar, with the bone on the right side much larger. I found out about this when I was about 12 yrs old. Every doctor I went to recommended surgery to either fuse or remove the right bone. I decided to try to do physical therapy and manage the pain myself. Over the years, I tried to “suck it up” and ignore the pain. I kept in good shape and tried to keep my weight low. I also received multiple cortizone shots. About 3 weeks ago, I started having horrific pain, including shooting pain through my right arm and down my right leg. It wakes me up at night and I have a hard time doing anything during the day. I saw a new doctor (he calls it a recent flare-up but I have no idea why it is flaring up!), am trying acupuncture this week and seeing another doctor next week. I am also now on Mobic (anti-inflammatory) and a medicine used for nerve disorders. I have not noticed a difference yet, but am hopeful. I am trying to avoid surgery (obviously!)
Can anyone tell me if anything has worked for them or any ideas?? Some days, the pain is so bad, I feel like surgery is the only way!! Thank you!
Drew
I discovered yesturday I have a 6th lumbar. In me it has caused excrutiating back pain from around the time I was 21 (im 24). A mild scoliosis (chiro says it may even be fixable, but harmless if we cant) and my signature….huge sensored. Curious, who else has a huge sensored from bad posture?For a moment this devistated me. I am a multi sport athlete. Pro level in one, NCAA D1 in another and high amatuer in the third. I;m also a firefighter. I thought my life was over. In the 10 minutes later I learned I owe my athletic prowness to my L6. It has given me much extra curvature and thrown my center of balance way foward. In skiing at the pro level having your weight foward is critical, especially at high speeds… I guess the statement is true, no pain, no gain. Still getting it fixed though.
jonny
cox traction method – drop table – side pops with drop table….. It works.find a chiro who does those things…you be fine 6 visits later.
John
Hey I am 13 and am 6’2″ and weigh about 160 pounds. I have a 6th lumbar vertebrae and in February 2017 I fell alot on the court in basketball. From all the fallign and hard impact to the court, I got 2 parsel stress fractures in the 6th lumbar vertebrae. I experienced harsh back pain and I saw a physical therapist. The physical therapist gave me a bunch of nightly exercises, which I did, and in August of 2017 I had incredibly strong abs, glutes, obliques, quads, ect. I have not experienced any back pain since. I would recommend seeing a physical therapist, but its up to you considering your 12 years older than me. 🙂
Brian
My wife just had 6 injections in her back yesterday,into her facet joints, while the Doc was doing the procedure they found the infamous L6 this is the first she has heard of this. she has been suffering with sever back pain for a about a year, has been doing Physical therapy, was given a protable tenns unit (e-stem), the doctors keep throwing very strong pain meds at her and turn around and express concern about the her perscription medication intake, when they were the ones who perscribed it. She seems to have alot of the same symptoms that all of you are expressing, I just wish there was something we could do because it seems that all of the docs just don’t want to fix the problem they just want to theow drugs at it, she is 29 yrs/old, with two masters degrees that she can’t use because she is in to much pain to work a full time job.any advice? thanks brian
Vincent
I have an additional lumbar vertebrae also… I have seen many many doctors, had PT, and seen a chiropractor. I believe it is a problem because no one knows how to help my pain. I have chronic back pain and am 19 yrs old. I highly suggest that you stay away from chiropractors they screwed my back up worse. massage therapy provides temporary relief.
Dean
Hi, I also have an extra vertebrae. It causes your sacrum to be shaped different than most people to make room for the extra vertebrae. It streches the muscles in the lower back and cause severe pain at times. My chiropracter adjusts me every two weeks. Keep your lower muscles toned by activity, but don’t over due it, or it will swell and cause even more pain when sitting to long or bending over and may have back spasms to follow. I will forever be under a doctors care and on medication for pain and swelling of my lower back. Ice packs help and alcohol is the worst thing for it.
Hope I’ve helped…..Dean
Gabby
Hi, I just found out that I have an extra lumbar vertebra. I’m 32 years old. I never had a broken bone I never was in a hospital except for visiting.. and I never had backpain till a month ago-that’s why I xrayed my spine and found that I have one more.. Apparently, from what I read here the doctors don’t know much about it. My doctor sais that the pain I feel is because the hard work (office job) I’ve done recently and I have nothing to worry. We’ll see.
Jenaya
I have heard a couple explanations for the L-6. I also have an L-6. Two theories I have heard reguarding this is that our L-6 was actually supposed to be part of the sacrum. In normal people, the “L-6” is supposed to be fused to the pelvis, but for some reason ours did not fuse. There is speculation on whether an L-6 is a possible human evolutionary change. We might be considered “evolved humans”. I do see a problem with this theory though. Normally when a population evolves it is to adapt to something or increase survival or ability to reproduce more efficiently. This definition of evolution doesn’t fit with what I’m reading about everyone having severe pain and back problems. It seems to be more of a problem than anything. Personally, I don’t have any pain from my L-6 but that might be because I’ve been an athlete my whole life and have always stressed importance on lumbar strength and muscle toning in that area for the fear of getting a debilitating back injury. I really suggest to anyone with lumbar pain to do excercises to increase “core” (abdominals/back) strength. Weight training, yoga, pilates are all good excercises for core strength. Until more research is done on the L-6, I think the best solution is anything preventative. Strengthen your muscles or else that L-6 will get you!
Patricia
okay L6 people…. I’m just 60 years young. Have been managing back pain of various degrees pretty much since 3 child births after 30. Twelve years ago after teaching kindergarten for four years and looking after family oldandyoung, I had severe exacerbation of a condition diagnosed as spondylolisthesis. This is slippage of one vertebra over another which pulls muscles, ligaments etc. out of whack and takes awhile to clam down(swimming ,weights, physio.,masagetherapy and drugs taken regularly for good sllep(amitriptylene in a low dose is great).
I did go to an osteopath who adjusted me every single time and then after my insurance payments ran out, promptly informeed me that I had plateued and he could not longer help me…apparently the same letter sent in every case like mine.
I was told later that you should not be getting adjusted repeatedly for anything as that means that you are not holding and could really be causing wear and tear..this makes sense to me now. Posture training and reduced workload and more rest thatn activity was the solution for me. I managed pretty well although I always talked of my “bad back”. That isn’t helpful psychologically. Our backs are marvelous but sometimes need corrective measures.Again a year ago I moved a table and put my back into another very painful cycle which couldn’t be tolerated. I was finally referred to the spine unit at our city hospital and as so0on as the surgeonso my x-ray and ctscan he knew that I was in bad pain and that he could help. An MRI showed further that my spondylolisthesis had advanced,my disc was almost gone,disc protrusion was threatening permanent leg problems, ddd was presentwith arthritis and my facet joints were unable to hold me.
OH YES AND THE INFAMOUS EXTRA VERTEBRA at L6. So I am now 10 days out of surgery and I’m a new woman with better posture ,less pain already,improved function and I’m noticeably taller!! Yahoo…talk about a positive outcome!! I’m euphoric,ecstatic, very grateful for my country and it’s imperfect healthcare(Canadian eh!!) In Vancouverundre the care of world renowned specialists on a dedicated spinal floor I received excellent care and was home in 4 days walking and able to toilet myself. The healing is amazing and I can see great things ahead. I had been gradually giving up many activities and felt threatened by the thought of living a confined dimindshed lifestyle.
I’ve got things to do…now I’ll be able to travel, hold babies, make wild,passionate lo….well you get the idea… I’m going to live!! DO NOT put up with money grabbers who do not get you help…or people who do not believe you are in pain…or those who say there is no cure. My best idea was to follow hatha, Dru and some Iyengar restorative yoga practices for the last 6 years.
I’m too chatty in my happiness but please do not give up on yourself. I’m thinking that the extra vertebra must cause some wear and tear as that is a significant weight to carry and probably causes extra mobility/action that will hurtand create changes that may cause problems. My poor body had built up all kinds of extra bone and a large fluid cyst tin efforts to heal itself and prevent pain.Now I love my body and especially my extra long back. Go fo healing everyone… you are so worth it… without our health we cannot be who we are meant to be.
Love to all, from “rebuilt” me
Michelle
I was told years ago that I had six lumbar and that it was not uncommon among people with roots in Moravia. I used to have lower pain pain just from sitting in a chair all day, but I no longer do now that I do yoga. I’d say try this first before spending dough on doctors and chiropractors.
Gabby
I have 6 lumbar vertebrae and only once in my life I suffered with back pain due to overstressing my back, I admit it. I am fine and well now and for almost five years I don’t practice any sport. Hope I’ll be fine considering all that.
Alison
I have just found out that I also have an extra lumber vertebrae. I first had severe lower back pain at 12 years old and could not move for a few days. Until the last couple of years the pain had been only occasional although severe. I now find that if I sit down to watch TV or drive for more than half an hour my back stiffens so that I can hardly get out of the seat. I find I can cope with the pain but feel upset when I can’t move properly in public places. I go to a chiropractor every month and this helps a bit. From what I’ve been reading here I think I need to do more exercise. I think we need to put some pressure on for some proper research!
Rob
I also found out I have an extra vert also. The Chiropractor I went to missed it but my Dr. noticed it. He ave me a Rx of Methylprednisolone. I just strarted it but the pain went away for now and I feel great I can walk again with out pain or limping.
kirsty
I have 6 lumber vertabrae- is this a problem when I have an epidural?
Alta
I’m 70, in excruciating pain. Had trouble from early teens with “bad discs” and would end up in traction. Fractured my sacrum when 29, so I’ve had many x-rays, even a myleogram for the fracture. However, my 6th lumbar “miraculously” showed just 2 weeks ago. I have extremely advanced arthritis in my lower hip joints and spondylolisthesis. My great chiropracter adjusts me, but only helps for a day or two. My GP sent me to a pain specialist and he recommends Prolotherapy. Google it everyone….even sport med docs use it to get atheletes back to their sports because it causes faster healing. If you google it, it will explain the pops you feel/hear as well as other reasons for all the pain. Cortisone injections only make your condition worse…it’s all explained. Only catch is….Medicare and most insurance companies won’t pay and I am on a very fixed income. My neighbor’s sister had 3 treatments and she is back to her square dancing group. It’s considered an alternative medicine but you should all look into it!!!! Pain and problems caused by the 6th lumbar only worsen as you get older. Good luck everyone!