Question

A client describes pain in the lower leg and has been diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disk. The pain in the leg is what type of pain?

A. limited pain
B. chronic pain
C. acute pain
D. referred pain

Answer 1

The pain in the lower leg due to a herniated lumbar disk is referred pain, occurring when pressure on the spine during heavy lifting causes the disk to herniate and press on spinal nerves.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pain in the lower leg that a client experiences due to a herniated lumbar disk is known as referred pain. When an individual lifts a heavy object, the increased pressure on the spine can cause a disk to herniate, which means the disk bulges or breaks open. This herniated disk can then press on the spinal nerves, causing pain that is felt in another area of the body, such as the lower leg. This phenomenon occurs because the nerves that originate in the lumbar spine region extend into the lower limbs, so irritation or compression of these nerves can lead to pain at a site distant from the actual source, which, in this case, is the lumbar region.