MRI OF THE LUMBAR SPINE

[Valariegail]

My right lower side of my back gives me so much pain when I lay on that side at night, so I usually am always on my left side. I get a tightening, like in the  muscle, just very uncomfortable. My MRI report stated the following:
Multiplanar and multisequence MR imaging of the lumbar spine was obtained without the administration of gadolinium. Images were obtained on a 0.3 Tesla Hitachi open Aris magnet.
The study was compared to the prior plain radiographs of the lumbar spine dated 8/11/2005.
there are multilevel Schmorl's nodes in the lower thoracic and throughout the lumbar spine (WHAT IS THAT) the lumbar vertebral body heights are maintained.  There is normal lumbar vertebral body alignment. There is no lumbar spondylolisthesis. There is disc desiccation at L5-S1. (WHAT'S THAT).. No focal conus espansion is demonstrated.  There is no disc bulge or disc herniation at the L1-L2 through L4-L5 levels. There is bilateral facet joint hypertrophis change and bilateral neural foraminal narrowing at L4-L5 (WHAT'S THAT MEAN)
At L5-S1 there is anterior discogenic bulging. There is also very  minimal posteriordiscogenic bulging. there are bilateral facet joint hypertrophic changes.  There is no lumbar spinal stenosis at any lumbar level. There is no sequestered or extruded disc material at any lumbar leve. There is no praspinal or epidual soft tissue mass. (OK, WHAT'S THAT MEAN)

The above is my report, but what is wrong with this area? Can this MRI be explained so I know how serious or not serious this situation is with my back.  There are some days it is unbearable, like when I am trying to sleep at night.   PLEASE HELP...IS SURGERY THE ONLY CURE.
I sure hope not. Thanks so much for your time.

Valarie

[High Noon]

Your MRI results do not seem to indicte anything serious.
A new England Journal of medicine study found that 79% of persons 30-40 years old had disc abnormalities, and only 25% exhibited back pain symptons.

Avoid surgery - no reason especially when there is no indication it can do anything for you.
Mike has a good suggestion. I would try that.

I do not know your age and personal circumstances. If you are under a great deal of stress and anxiety these could be possible sources.

Try reading a book by Dr. John sarno on back and other pain, the causes and cure.

[jotabravo]

Your report looks to be pretty good.  

[mike1105]

your problem may be as simple as tight hip flexors. try doing some deep trigger point work on the muscles that hurt in the hip area, and then stretch them. try for a few weeks. (I do my trigger point work by laying on a baseball or softball on the sore tight muscles--3 minutes for each area. hurts like heck, then i stretch, try 3 times per day. look up hip flexor strteches on the internet. your problem to me does not sound like it is in the bony elements of the spine.