Numerous studies prove that two thirds of people seek medical advice due to low-back pain. The most frequent reason of low-back pain is degenerative changes of intervertebral discs.

   Main objective of diagnostics is to distinguish age-related changes in discs morphology from changes related to pathological degeneration of discs leading to neural compression. However it is quite possible that pathological degeneration of discs is just speeding up of normal ageing process; pathophysiology of this process is rather complicated and unknown in many aspects.

    Degenerative changes of intervertebral discs may be registered after first 10 years of life of a man and 10 years later in women. However etiology of neurologic symptomatology at lumbodynia is much more complicated than simple mechanical compression of neural structures. Origins of pain are described in many studies: issues concerning roles of chemical stimuli, autoimmune complexes, etc. are debated.

    Scientific progress provided therapist with high-precision methods of spine examination, such as computed tomography (CT).

    Some people believe that routine methods of spine radio research, such as radiography, myelography and discography became things of the past and represents historical interest only. Sometimes clinician has no exact idea for what kind of examination low-back pain patient should be subjected to.

    There is an opinion that computed tomography replaces all other diagnostic methods and must be applied as the only diagnostics method, but it is not true. 3D NLS method, introduced in recent years, with its usability and low price, in many cases is more informative and, in general, more available than computed tomography. Objective of this study is to demonstrate potentials of both methods in diagnostics of spine degenerative-dystrophic damages.