Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I just had an mri done yesterday on my lower back and the assistant of the doctor called and told me that I have wear and tear changes in my L5 S1 and a disc tear in L4. She went on to say to do the Pelvic Thrust exercise and to purchase a lower lumbar roll for my back when sitting. What does this mean? When I lay flat in the MRI I had severe back pain and it was painful to walk or sit, so how is this exercise and roll going to help when I am laying flat in bed?
[|AI|]  Wear and tear means age related changes in the spine. It usually results into disc degeneration with facet joint arthritis. Back muscle stretching and exercise helps to improve the back muscle tone and subsequently gives more support to spine. Lumbar roll is to give support to lower back. If you are in severe pain then I would suggest trying anti-inflammatory with muscle relaxants and physiotherapy such as interferrential therapy (IT) to relieve the pain. Once pain subsided and more tolerable than start the exercise. Thanks.