lumbar region mri report

at the L2-3,L3-4,L4-5,L5-1, THERE IS DISC BULGING WITH ENDPLATE OSTEOPHYTE.no focal disc herniation.
also says no evidence of central spinal stenosis.
impression says mild,diffuse lumbar spondylosis from L2-3 through L5-S1.

I HAVE SUM DISCOMFORT LOWER LEFT SIDE TOP OF BUTT AREA HAD A RESTRUCTURING AT MY JOB AND IT CAUSED SUM STRAIN ON THIS INJURY I HAVE HAD IT SINCE 91..
WHAT IS EXACTLY BULGING DISC ?IS IT BAD WHAT I HAVE  THANKS LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

I will let you know some facts about the spinal cord and the vertebral column.

As you know, the spinal cord is an extension of the brain. It safely lies in the tunnel formed by the vertebral bones, together called as vertebral column. When two adjacent vertebral bone bodies com in contact with each other, they do not touch each other directly. There is a protective, cushioning, intervertebral disc in between them. This disc acts as a shock absorber and allows the vertebrae to move on each other.

Please have a look at the figures in these links.

This one shows a normal arrangement of the intervertebral disc.
Nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus are the parts of the disc.
http://www.wolfhouse.dk/articles/images/img_fce_figure1.jpg

This one shows a bulging intervertebral disc.
http://www.spine-surgery.com/Image_06_400pix_DPUSA20_20.gif

Thus, if the disc between the two vertebrae is weakened, it bulges out with pressure. In the second figure, you can see the bulging disc pressing the nerve coning out. Research has shown that the symptoms are not directly proportional to the severity of bulging. This means, you can have small bulging with more symptoms. Since you have a lot of bulging discs, you should take good are not to do activities which increase pressure on the spine, such as jumping, sitting long hours on the chair without proper back support, etc. Right now, your disc bulging is limited to "bulging". This may progress to prolapse / herniation of the disc.

http://www.carepluschiropractic.com/chiropractic/images/disc_3.gif

http://www.eorthopod.com/images/ContentImages/spine/spine_thoracic/herniation/thoracic_herniation_intro01.jpg

Regards