Hello, I just need some help understanding an MRI report. I recently was involved in a MVA in which I have been having severe lower back pain which radiates to my legs at times, and neck pain which radiates to my arms at times only. This is what the MRI states:

There is a broad based more central mild disc protrusion of the disc L4-L5 indenting the thecal sac and causing mild central stenosis.

There is a left lateral focal protrusion of the disc at L5-S1 minimally encroaching the lateral recess.

Can someone please explain this to me in english. I went my primary doc and he says that I have 2 herinated disc, which in the long run I might need surgery, and you need to be out of work to rest your back, I do a lot of lifting of patients at work, and that I need to see a neurosurgeon (my attorney says the same thing). Then went to see a local ortho doc that told me, "you're fine, go back to work with no limitations, you're body will heal on it's own you only have bulging disc their not herinated. Is this ortho doc right or wrong? I thought that protrusion of a disc is the same thing as herniated disc.

Someone please educate me on all this.

GOD BLESS