herniated disk syndrome

herniated disk 'syndrome'

 An acquired condition most commonly affecting active middle-aged adults, classically occurring after a minor trauma or torsion stress of the vertebral column, punctuated by the sensation of a 'snap', which corresponds to a prolapse of the nucleus pulposus into the nerve roots or spinal cord, causing progressive and distal radiation of pain; the backache subsides as the sciatica 'syndrome' develops with its sensorimotor consequences