中英文字幕：腰椎间盘退变性疾病（Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease）

       腰椎退行性变是指随着年龄的增长，过度的活动和超负荷的承载，使腰椎加快出现老化，并在外力的作用下，继发病理性改变，以致椎间盘纤维环破裂，椎间盘内的髓核突出，引起腰腿痛和神经功能障碍。

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Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

腰椎间盘退变性疾病

Lumbar degenerative disc disease is a condition that sometimes causes low back pain or radiating pain from damaged discs in the spine. A lumbar spinal disc acts as a shock absorber between vertebrae, and allows the joints in the spine to move easily.

　　腰椎间盘退变性疾病是一种有时候会引起腰痛或因脊椎椎间盘破坏引起放射性疼痛的疾病。腰椎间盘充当椎体间的减震器，允许脊柱的关节自由活动。

The strong, fibrous outer portion of a spinal disc, known as the annulus fibrosus, contains the soft inner core of the disc, the nucleus pulposus.

　　脊柱椎间盘外部坚韧的纤维结构，称为纤维环，中间包含着柔软的椎间盘内核，称为髓核。

Each person’s spinal discs undergo degenerative changes as they age, but not all people will experience symptoms as a result of these changes. Symptoms are most commonly seen in 30 to 50 year olds.

　　每个人的椎间盘在他们年老时都会发生退行性变。但并不是所有的人都会因为这些改变而出现症状。症状大多数出现在30~50岁。

Pain from degenerative disc disease is usually tolerable, with flare-ups that last for a few days or more. It is normally felt in the lower back, but it can radiate into the hips and legs. The pain tends to be worse when sitting, as the discs have to bear a heavier load.

　　因退变性椎间盘疾病引起的疼痛通常是可以忍受的，有时会突然加重，持续数天甚至更长时间。疼痛往往在腰部，但会放射到臀部及腿部。在坐的时候疼痛趋于加重，因为这时椎间盘要承受更大的载荷。

One way degenerative disc disease causes pain is through inflammation of the nerves. When the outer part of a disc breaks down, the inner portion of the disc can leak out, releasing proteins that irritate surrounding nerves. Another cause of pain is when degenerated discs cannot properly absorb stress, leading to abnormal movement along the vertebral segment. Back muscles may spasm painfully in order to stabilize the spine.

　　退变性椎间盘疾病引起疼痛的一条途径是神经的炎性反应。当椎间盘的外层破裂，椎间盘的内部成分会泄漏，释放出蛋白质，刺激周围的神经。另一个引起疼痛的原因是当退变的椎间盘不能正常吸收压力，导致该脊椎节段异常活动。为了稳定脊柱，背部的肌肉会痉挛而引起疼痛。

In some cases, the disc space may collapse enough to compress a nerve root, leading to leg pain known as radiculopathy. Low back pain from degenerative disc disease often goes away with time as inflammatory proteins decrease and the disc collapses into a stable position.

　　在有些病例，椎间盘空间坍塌，足以引起神经根受压，导致腿痛，即所谓神经根性病变。随着时间推移，当炎性蛋白的减少和椎间盘坍塌到达稳定的位置后，因退变性椎间盘疾病引起的腰痛常会消失。

（高晨珉     转）