How serious is my MRI reading

[stoshab]

Hello I was wondering if someone can help me understand the severity of my spinal MRI's.  I had an MRI of both my lumbar and thoratic spine. I have lower and mid back pain. I have pain in both legs. Water retention, and radiating pain to my left side.  Feeling like I'm being "hooked".  It hurts to take a deep breath.  Does this report explain all of that? How many ruptured disc do I have? Is this very serious?  Here is what the report read:
There is normal verebral body height seen throughout the lumbar spine.  There is normal alignment, with no evidence of subluxation.  There is loss of intervertebral disc T2 signal identified at L4-L5 and L5-S1.  There is no loss of intervertebral disc height at L4-L5.  Abnormal signal is identified along the superior endplate of L5, consistent with Schmorl's node.
At the T12-L1 level there is a central disc protusion which measures 6mm in lateral dimension, 4 mm in AP dimension and 6 mm in craniocaudal dimension.  There is no significant canal or neuroforaminal stenosis from this lesion.
At the L1-L2, L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels, there is no significant disc protrusion, canal stenosis or neuroforaminal encroachment.
At the L4-L5 level, there is a diffuse disc bulge with a central disc extrusion.  This measures 17mm in lateral dimension, 16 mm in craniocaudal dimension and 9 mm in AP dimension.  This causes severe canal stenosis, with the canal measuring 6 mm.  There is mild right neuroforaminal stenosis also evident.
At the L5-S1 level, there is no significant canal stenosis, neuroforaminal encroachment from a mild diffuse disc bulge.
There is a normal vertebral body height and alignment seen throughout the thoracic spine.  there is no abnormal signal identified within the cord. No abnormal signal is identified within the bone marrow. No significant loss of T2 signal is identified within the intraverebral disc space.
There is redemonstration of a diffuse disc bulge identified at T7-T8.  This causes borderline canal stenosis, with the canal measuring approximately 11 mm, This is stable compared to the prior examination.  There is mild, diffuse disc bulge at T6-T7, with no significant canal stenosis.  Mild disc bulge is identified at T11-T12 and T12-L1.  
Impressions:
Stable appearance to the diffuse is disc bulge identified at T7-T8, with a borderline canal stenosis, with the canal measuring 11 mm.
Minimal diffuse disc bulges are identified at T6-T7 and T10-T11.  there is no canal stenosis associated with these lesions.
Disc protrusion identifed at T12-L1 without significant canal stenosis.
Large disc extrusion identified at L4-L5, causing severe canal stenosis.

[LittleRed2]

Can someone help me understand my CT lumbar spine?  Recently I had such severe pain when I got up out of the chair I could not walk. Next day I was fine. My CT was taken 3/2013 and they want to take another CT scan. I cannot have a MRI.

It reads as such:

L4-L5 and L5-S1 significant facet arthropathy is noted with degenerative changes.
L1-L2 and L2-L3 demonstrate no significant foraminal stenosis or central canal stenosis.
L3-L4 demonstrates small broad based disc bulge. Mild bilateral foraminal stenosis is noted. Mild facet arthropathy is noted.
L4-L5 demonstrates small broad based disc bulge. Moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis is noted with facet arthropathy.
L5-S1 demonstrates disc desiccation with disc space narrowing. Small broad based disc bulge is noted. Mild to moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis is noted.

[Dezarayhelfenstein]

I just recieved my mri and it says minimal disc herniation with disc narrowing with disc desiccation without spinal canal stenosis  in my L-s spine

Then my cervical says minimaldisc herniation with effacement of thecal sac without spinal cord compression
What does this really mean

[Goodwin13]

I was recently involved in a car accident that has caused some damage in my lower back. My immediate concern is that I had back surgery on ruptured discs on my lower left side a few years ago and ever since then mine back had been sensitive.  I recently felt a shift in my lower back and over the past week a severe pain has affected my right side starting from my lower back bottom area down to practically my ankle. A rather sharp pain and hurts so bad. It sometimes is even hard to ben over to get dressed, sit or even stand for long periods of time.  
My MRI report states this LUMBAR SPINE
L4-L5 mild foraminal disc bulging bilaterally greater on the right. Small component of right foraminal protrusion.  No hypertrophic facet DJD. No central stenosis. Foraminal stenosis is mild to moderate on the right.
L5-S1 demonstrates a mild broad disc bul0dge extending into both neural foramina greater on the left. There is a mild left paramedian peripheral annular tear. Formal stenosis is mild on the left.

[bigsissie]

Your disc  L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 disc are not as spongy as they should be. The L5 S1 disc is bulging/herniated on the left side and pressing on a nerve. More than likely the reason they want to operate is because you are at risk for permanent damage to the nerve getting pinched.  There is a Nerve conduction chart on my profile that would be helpful for you to look at. please feel free to look and share with anyone. Best wishes, Sissie

[LarryRicketts]

My doctor recommended me for surgery. Here is what my MRI report said. Someone please explain this to me. There is desiccation of the L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 disks. At L5-S1 there is a left lateral focal disk protrusion impinging the left sided nerve root

[lil179]

need help my boyfriends mri says his L1-L2L3L4 has 2 and 3 mm bulge he is in so much pain he  can't sleep more than 1 hour at a time and then he sits for hour.he has an appoinment with the orthopedic surgen next week and his is so nervous. will surgery be necessary?
thanks Lily