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[|Human|] I would like to know in laymans term what the following means:  L3-L4; left lateral disc bulge causing nueral foraminal narrowing. Central disc protrusion is identified.  Some of the disc material is seen to extend to the posterior superior aspect of L4.L4-L5: Central disc protrusion involving the left lateral recess.  There is ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and fact hypertrophy.L5-S1:  Facet hypertrophyI have been having lower back pain since October of 2009 which radiates down my right leg...on the outside of my leg.  I have been seeing a chiropractor who has told me that I have some serious issues going on but it is possible to get this under control.  I also have RA.  I am taking anti-inflammatory meds twice a day, Methotrexate weekly and Enbrel injection weekly.  But this back thing is not getting any better.  I work on a computer all day so I sit for 8 hours.  The pain has really changed my life...it seems to be constant now and hinders me from doing things I would enjoy.  I was wondering if I should see a specialist and perhaps consider a nerve block.
[|AI|]  HI, thanks for using Chat Doctor Between the vertebra there are discs called intervertebral discs. These discs are composed of 2 main areas, the inner aspect is called the nucleus pulposus and an outer aspect called the fibrosis which surrounds it. The disc is gel like, as person age, it loses some of its water content and small tears can occur. Your results state that there is protrusion of the disc between lumbar vertebra 3 and 4. This protruded disc (pushed out) is narrowing the neural fora min (this is a passage way for spinal nerves). There is also protrusion between L 4 and L5. The facet joints are where the vertebra meet. Facet joint hypertrophy means increased size of this area. One cause is arthritis. These changes would definitely contribute to your back pain. You should consider a specialist, physiotherapy may also help. I hope this helps