About a month ago, I started experiencing horrible pain in my lower back, which was beginning to radiate down my right leg. I was set up with an MRI.

After a week and no news, I called my doctor and was told by the receptionist that answered the phone my MRI results were negative. I was still in pain, but it had decreased, so I figured I just had some form of muscle strain.

I returned to the doctor today due to recurring pain. It wasn't anywhere near as bad as the pain I had experienced upon my first visit, but it was returning. I reported to my doctor that I had called and was told my MRI results were negative. He informed me that, in fact, my MRI results showed some disc bulges, though no impingement.

He printed off the MRI results for me and gave me pain medication and an order for physical therapy. I was wondering if someone could further explain these results to me and possibly explain why my results were reported to me as being negative. The results are as follows:

"Findings: Vertebral heights are maintained. Marrow signal appears normal. Disc spaces are maintained. There is normal disc signal. The conus appears normal at L1-L2. Distal aorta does not appears dilated. No spondylolisthesis. There is levoscoliosis.

Axial images at L1-L2 show no spinal or foraminal stenosis.
L2-L3 demonstrates a very minimal central disc bulge without impingement.
L3-L4 shows minimal central/left disc bulge without impingement.
L4-L5 appears unremarkable although facet hypertrophy is present.
L5-S1 demonstrates a broad-based central disc protrusion without evidence of focal impingement."

Can anymore shed some light on this for me?

Thanks so much!