Spinal Cord Injuries L1, L2, L3, L4, & L5 Vertebrae Explained. Symptoms, Recovery, Causes, Prognosis

Injuries to the lumbar spine are severe but not life-threatening. Early treatment is important to the prognosis.
The lumbar spine is located in the lower back below the cervical and thoracic sections of the spine. It consists of five vertebrae known as L1 - L5. These lumbar vertebrae (or lumbar bones) contain spinal cord tissue and nerves which control communication between the brain and the legs. Damage to the lumbar spinal cord subsequently affects the hips and groin area, and may impact the lower abdominal muscles and thigh flexion as well.
Lumbar spinal cord injuries (SCIs) may be complete or incomplete and may affect one or both sides of the body. As is the case with other spinal cord injuries, the completeness of the spinal cord damage will determine how severe the injury and symptoms will be for the patient.
Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine: Where Are the L1-L5 Vertebrae Located?
How many vertebrae are in the spine? Well, for the lumbar spinal column, there are five sections.
Lumbar vertebrae anatomy is generally classified by dividing the lumbar spine into five distinct sections. These sections are labelled as the L1-L5 vertebrae. These vertebrae are located near the base of the spine and naturally form a slight outward curve in the back, just below the inward curve of the thoracic spine. The lumbar vertebrae function to contain and protect the end of the spinal cord, as well as support the weight of the torso.
Here’s a quick explanation of how the lumbar spinal cord fits in with your lower back anatomy, as well as potential symptoms of injuries do different parts of the lumbar spine.
What is the L1 Vertebra? What Are the Symptoms of an L1 Injury?
The L1 vertebra is the topmost section of the lumbar spinal column. This section of the spine contains a portion of the spinal cord. Injuries to the L1 spine can affect hip flexion, cause paraplegia, loss of bowel/bladder control, and/or numbness in the legs.
What is the L2 Vertebra? What Are the Symptoms of an L2 Injury?
The L2 vertebra contains the end of the spinal cord proper—all other spinal vertebrae below this point only have spinal nerves, not the spinal cord. Injuries to the L2 vertebra can have effects similar to an L1 injury (reduced hip flexion, paraplegia, and numbness).
What is the L3 Vertebra? What Are the Symptoms of an L3 Injury?
This is the middle vertebra of the lumbar spine, and the first vertebra to not contain a section of the spinal cord. Common symptoms of an L3 lumbar spinal injury include weakness, numbness, and loss of flexibility in the legs, hips, and/or groin.
What is the L4 Vertebra? What Are the Symptoms of an L4 Injury?
The second to last section of the lumbar spinal column. While injuries to the L4 vertebra tend to be less severe than injuries to the spinal cord proper, symptoms include an inability to bend the feet in a particular direction.
What is the L5 Vertebra? What Are the Symptoms of an L5 Injury?
The L5 vertebra is the final section of the lumbar spine (at least, it is for most people). Injury to the L5 spinal nerve bundle can cause numbness and weakness in the legs, but the extent of these symptoms can vary from case to case.
Lumbar Injury Prognosis
Injuries to the lumbar spine are severe but not life-threatening. Early treatment is important to the prognosis of lumbar spinal cord damage. Patients with a lumbar spinal cord injury can be independent and care for their own mobility and hygienic needs. Many patients are able to maneuver around in their manual wheelchair and may even be able to walk for short distances. Weakness is the main issue with patients who experience lumbar nerve injuries, so physical therapy is a must in the recovery phase.
Common Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
Patients with lumbar spinal cord injuries may experience:
• Paraplegia with functional independence
• The need for a manual wheelchair for part-time or full-time use
• Ability to ambulate using braces or other walking devices
• Lack of control of bowels or bladder
Causes of Lumbar Spinal Cord Injuries
The most common causes spinal cord injuries at the lumbar level are:
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Trauma
• Falls
• Birth defect
• Degeneration
• Osteoporosis
L1-L5 SCI Injury Treatment
Current treatments available for spinal cord patients with lumbar injuries include:
• Drugs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs are used in treating spinal cord injuries.
• Surgery: Surgical decompression of the nerves and fusion of the vertebrae are done to reduce pressure around the spinal nerves, and fixate the spinal column around the spinal cord injury. This can help to restore some function in a person’s lower back anatomy, especially by removing cysts.
• Therapy: Physical therapy is done to encourage strength in the areas that are affected by spinal cord damage, as well as maintain function in the non-affected area.

[sfcdjday]

I guess I was pretty lucky! I fell 30’ out of a tree. Burst fracture of my L1, SCI (lost bladder and bowel, no sensation in hip region) torn ACL, MCL and LCL and had a pulmonary embolism in right lung. I regained bladder and bowel control, vertebrae is fused from T11-L1, I am mobile and am able to walk on my own after being in a wheelchair and walker. I am thankful to still be here and now grateful for my abilities and to grow stronger. Thank you for the video!

[jennifergroom]

This is a very helpful video. Thank you for the clear explanation and for posting.

[reesespieces]

Love to know I’m not the only one dealing with crippling back pain

[patriciasmith]

My L1 burst fracture occurred after falling down my wooden basement stairs. I missed an upper step then flew into the air slamming down on the 2nd step from the bottom. I had zero bruising on my back instead I swelled internally. I spent 11 days in the hospital. I went home to recover in a brace. Sadly my doctor passed away from Covid-19. Because of Covid in 2020 I decided to go home instead of a nursing facility. I had zero rehab. They refused to fix my back because I have stage 4 osteoporosis. I also have Multiple Sclerosis and severe Fibromyalgia. I have Rheumatoid arthritis too. Anyway the swelling was so severe I could not urinate normally. I had no feeling so to pee I had to use a pure wick that sucked it into a container. I was unable to have a bowel movement for 15 days. I have no numbness instead I suffer from horrible debilitating pain. I also suffered a T-12 herniated disc. It has been a very painful 3 years.

[voleti]

Informative content, I suffered from L3 and L4 disk issues few months back and i am recovering slowly with few exercises and changes in the habits.

[LuliBrazil]

My husband had an accident that a pick up truck fell and hit his back, it had wheels so it didn't squeezed him, but the trauma broke his T12, L1 and L2, I met him a decade after. Before his back didn't hurt so much, but this year, it's 31 years already that he is on wheelchair and the doctors just give him pain killers, I believe they need to check if the back is still stabilized.

[FernandoDeJesusPonce]

I had an Xray that showed I had a small wedge between my L4 and L5. I did have pain when it first happened, put me out for a month I could barely walk. I'm good now but I need to get checked ASAP because even though I do work and workout 6x per week but there's a small discomfort and small pain on my left/right sides, the pain shifts, sometimes even from one minute to the other.

[cal]

Thanks. I've very recently fractured L1- L4 & this video was very useful.

[jestinjohn]

Im so grateful for this video. I have been diagnosed having a damage in L1 before few years. Im 26 years of old and 53 kg. Can you suggest me if i need further treatment or something? Now i have shooting pain at times and back pain, also cant take heavy weights. Plz suggest me what to do

[nicnic]

I fractured my l2 from a fall of a horse in 2021. Thank you for this video.
I got 🍀 lucky

[deewill]

What is the window for treatment after initial
Diagnosis? I'm still walking but afraid it's too late.

[andreawojcik]

If someone with a Lumbar SCI CAN-'T return to driving there is a HUGE problem with their rehab. I am T2 Complete SCI and have driven many vehicles with hand-controls. The only Concern would be if there is a co-morbid brain injury. As judgement could be impaired enough to make licensing unsafe.

[zanw.awesome]

Had an Infected spinal dermal sinus tract leading to the spinal cord at L2-3. Lost bowel and bladder function, almost no sexual function, extremely weak lower limbs but Thank god I can still walk.

But saying having a normal life sir, is just not true. Since it happened when I was born, I'm hoping to get an MRI and hoping it's a tethered spinal cord causing the symptoms and not the 8 spinal surgeries I had and hoping out of everything that I can be fixed even though the chances are low. Here's to hoping we're not unfixable.

[padureancristian]

My dad fell of a ladder and has the l2 l4 l5 vertebres broken, he was in the hospital for 5 days and takes medication, what are the risks? Will he walk normally again? 😢❤

[siddarthareddychitiki]

Lumbar spondylosis degenerative changes can be cared permanently without surgeries? Please reply.

[shekhar-kcmf]

As a spinal injury patient for the last 6 years this is a ray of hope.coming date in india

[Chiroman]

This video serves to alert and inform of the many affects of spinal issues. I have a number of spinal issues affecting my well being. Several Vertebrae disc bulges, mild to moderate stenosis, dextroscoliosis of 25 degrees, facet joint arthritis all along the spine. I'm 70, in 1966 playing HS football, I fractured the right femur. It is 1 " short since, and was left Unaddressed since that time until about 2012 when I began wearing adjusted shoes. Too late, the damage has been done....all the way up to the top of my skull. CNS and peripheral Nerve damage. My question is this: Can Disc Bulges at L2 & L3, bulging into the front and the rear, affect your Stomach? A old Neurologist, 52 years in practice, showed me (and no other doctor did), that those 2 Disc bulges "could" affect your stomach. I suffer many Chronic Itises: Sinusitis, Tinnitus, IBS /GERD, Arthritis all over the place (hips, Knees, Neck, Facet Joints), Chronic pain/ Stiffness/ Anxiety and even diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. The Scoliosis too can affect many organs in the body bc of the affect to various Nerves as one Mt. Sinai Spinal Surgeon told me - he said many Doctors count that short in the exam. Do you concur with the old neurologist? My Diaphragm is affected as well, my ribs hurt. I suffer form Miitary Neck sustained from Forward Head Posture (ciommuting by car for over 48 years).

[tironatirona]

Can an hernitated disc cause digestive problems like IBS and gastritis in stomac ? please answer ?

[ridinmissdaisy]

I've just had a horse jumping accident and fractured L1, L2, L3, L4 any suggestions?.

[nimanajeha]

Could compressed vertebra come to it's orignal heigh and strength shape in young age. After trauma. Age 26 years, male
Waiting for valuable answer.
Please