Question
I just got this report today and my doctor is out of the office for a week. I really want to understand what the report means. I need it translated so that I will understand. I'm scared and the not knowing is awful. This is what my report says:

Findings: Normal sagittal alignment. No vertebral body fractures. Bone marrow signal without evidence of focal mass lesion. The conus medullaris terminates at T12-L1.

L5-S1 shows small left foraminal disc protusion with annular tear resulting in mild left foraminal narrowing. It may be affecting the exiting L5 nerve root. No central stenosis.5

L4-L5 shows disc desiccation. Small central protrusion without significant central canal srenosis, lateral recess narrowing, nor neural foraminal narrowing. No definitie nerve encroachment.

L3-L4 shows small left foraminal disc protrusion  resulting in mild neural foraminal narrowing. No definite nerve encroachment on MRI but correlate with physical exam finding. No neural foraminal narrowing on the right nor central canal stenosis.

L2-L3 shows no focal HNP, neural foraminal narrowing, nor central canal stenosis. Normal hydration.

L1-L2 shows no focal HNP, neural foraminal narrowing, nor central canal stenosis. Normal disc hydration.

IMPRESSION:
1.   L5-S1 SMALL LEFT FORAMINAL DISC PROTRUSION WITH ANNULAR TEAR MAY BE AFFECTING THE EXITING L5 NERVE ROOT. CORRELATE WITH PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS.

2.   L4-L5 WITH SMALL CENTRAL DISC PROTRUSION. NO DEFINITE NERVE ENCROACHMENT.

3.   L3-L4 SMALL LEFT FORAMINAL DISC PROTRUSION WITHOUT DEFINITE NERVE ENCROACHMENT. CORRELATE WITH PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS.

4.   NO VERTEBRAL BODY FRACTURES.

Answer
look at the impression (last paragraph)
1: disc L5-S1 disc displacement to the left with a tear putting pressure on L5 nerve
2: L4-5 small disc displacement, no nerve pressure
3: L3-4 small left disc displacement,mild neural foramina narrowing (hole where the nerve exits the spine is a little narrow)but no nerve pressure according to radiologist report.
hope that helps.