Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] suffering chronic and often acute back pain from neck to foot on back left side with radiculopothy of left leg for six months.   Assuming its a herniated disc in the lumbar region, do the nerves radiate to the lower rib cage of the back? The rib seems to have a very sensative point that will hurt to the touch.
[|AI|]  Hi, thanks for posting your concern in the Chat Doctor. A herniated disc in the lumbar region will not cause pain in the ribs. The dermatome distribution is different. Neither will it cause any pain in the neck. Radiating pain in the lower extremity may come from a pathology in the lumbar spine. . I think you should have clinical examination of entire spine. Cervical spondylosis or any other abnormality in the C spine may produce radiating neck and/or upper back pain. Rib tenderness may occur due to several conditions including diseases in the lung, mediastinum or pleura. Bony pathology and fibromyalgia should also be ruled out. You should consult your local orthopedic surgeon or local physician for further clinical examination and evaluation. Tests including that of blood and imaging of the spine and chest may be needed. For any further query please write back to us. Regards.