back pain

I just had an mri done one monday and these are the results:  multi level mild spondylosis of the lumbar spine with no significant segemntal canal stenosis.  Mild broad based disc bulges indentifed in left lateral aspects of the l4-5 and l5-s1 levels causeing mild left sided neural foramen encroachment. multilevel mild to moderate facet hypertrophy. other areas of degenerative disc disease.  I have alot of left leg and hip pain on a daily basis.  And also my left leg goes numb quite frequently.  What does all of this mean and what can be done for it?

[dr_simran]

Hello Dear,
The spinal discs are soft cushions that rest between the bones of the spine, the vertebrae. When a disc is damaged, it may herniate, or push out, against the spinal cord and spinal nerves and cause disc bulge,spinal narrowing and cause nerve compression leading to neurological symptoms like numbness,tingling,radicular pain.Also there are degenerative changes where there may be formation of osteophytes causing pain.You need to go for conservative treatment with NSAID and drugs like lyrica .Good physical therapy and back extension exercises may prove fruitful.
Best