Need help understanding MRI

[W902]

Hi, I have back problems for the past 5 or 6 years, but recently had a bad episode of spasms and severe pain in my mid-back area. Had an MRI done and don't fully understand the results. Are any of the findings issues I need to be concerned with or are they simply age related and typical? I am 39 yrs old, 6' 0" and weigh 265. I will cut and paste the results I received below. Please let me know. Thanks!
TECHNIQUE: Sagittal T1 and sagittal FSE T2 weighted images with axial
FSE T2 and axial T1 weighted images.

COMPARISON: None

FINDINGS:
Age related disc degeneration is seen at multiple levels, with disc
space narrowing .

T11-T12: Left sided disc protrusion/osteophyte. No stenosis.

T12-L1: Central left-sided extruded herniated disc. No stenosis.

L1-L2: There is no herniation or stenosis.

L2-L3: There is no herniation or stenosis.

L3-L4: Disc bulge/osteophyte. There is no stenosis.

L4-L5: Disc bulge/osteophyte. There is no stenosis.

L5-S1: Central disc protrusion/osteophyte. Facet hypertrophy.
There is no stenosis.

Conus is unremarkable.
Vertebral bodies appear overall unremarkable, allowing for probable
hemangioma.
Impression
IMPRESSION:
I do not see a right-sided nerve root compression.

T11-T12: Left sided disc protrusion/osteophyte.

T12-L1: Central left-sided extruded herniated disc. No stenosis.

L3-L4 and L4-L5: Disc bulge/osteophyte.

L5-S1: Central disc protrusion/osteophyte. Facet hypertrophy.

[Abhijeet Ghosh]

Dear Friend,
Your MRI findings are suggestive of Disc protrusion, which is causing back aches/spasms, etc.
Between 2 vertebra there is a disc which acts like a shock absorber. Due to repetitive movements, wear and tear occurs resulting into the microsection breakup of the disc resulting in the disc protrusion.
SInce the space availability in the spine is low, it causes impingement over the nerve roots causing pain/spasm.
In your case scenario, since there is no stenosis we can follow the following protocol-
1) Take pain killers and muscle relaxants.Once the pain is reduced, can start up spine physiotherapy for 3-4 months.
2) Failure of physiotherapy can be adjusted with Epidural steroid injection.
3) If this also fails, then surgery would be last option.

So would suggest you to meet a good orthopaedician and plan it accordingly.
Feel free to discuss more,
Regards

[W902]

Thank you for your reply Dr. Ghosh. I will suggest this route to my doctor. Can you tell me if the finding at T12-L1 "Central extruded herniated disc" is something I should be concerned with? Is it actually a "herniated" disc? Same with the Facet hypertrophy? Age related or a real concern? Thanks again!