Originally Posted by (Broken Wings)

uhhh... no fun

Your discs are shock absorbers (soft tissues) that are in between your vertebrae (bone).

Bulges of discs are like a knot on a tire.

Herniations of discs are a little worse; in that, they have an opening in the disc (not good) where the gelatinous material can come outside this discs. on a microscopic basis of course, and over time may flatten and weaken the disc.

Schmorl's nodes are still herniations or bulges, located at the end plate - (just the location). The doctor's name for naming this type of bulge was a German pathologist, Dr. Schmorl. It is also thought that these Schmorl's nodes are more injury related and can cause early degenerative processes to occur, which your posts confirms degeneration, "hypertrophic changes."

ligamentus flavum is a stong ligament, like inside your vertebrae, that holds the vertebrae in alignment. thickening is indicative of spondylosis, which you have.

spondylosis is also a aging process. more related to osteoarthritis.

It's too bad you have these findings in your entire spinal column and already had two surgeries.

hope that helps.

Your doctor may explain it to you differently so let's see what your doc tells you.

Make yourself comfortable but you need to strengthen your stomach muscles to help your back become stronger, to hold those bulges and herniations better. Plus you'll need to keep active. Don't just cease up. You'll hurt a lot worse.

oh, yeah. and inhale water... as much as you can drink