<human>: hi, male, 48 years old, 5 10 /195 pounds. The following was listed in an MRI report: Left paracentral disc protrusion and extrusion at L4-5 measuring 0.7cm in depth, 1.9cm in transverse measurement and a length of 1.7cm. There is disc extrusion with superior migration of disc material overlying the interior endplate of L4. There is accompanying displacement of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Left paracentral and lateral narrowing is present impinging the descending left S1 nerve root. There is bilateral inferior foraminal narrowing, left worse than right. So what does that mean? Good, bad or not that bad?
<bot>: Your MRE spine shows disc prolapse L4-L5 region compressing S1 root. THIS may be an incidental finding at age 48. But if you have symptom such as backache, radiating pain to lower limb back side, any weaknesses in lower limb or sensory loss, then you can consult neurosurgeon for surgery. But if you have only pain then go for medical treatment only not surgical. Severity of MRI finding depend on your clinical symptom as motor weakness on sensory loss in limb. At this age without symptom only MRI finding is non-specific