What do the results for my MRI show? The only thing I know my back is killing me!?

I have some experience in this area, having had a severe compression fracture with 3 herniated disks, a ruptured disk, and degenerative disk disease. What this is saying in short, is that you have some mild disk abnormalities in some areas, but it seems that the doctor feels as though the source of your pain is a herniated and protruding disk between your L3 and L4 vertebrae. "L "refers to the lumbar (which is the lower) segment of your spine. (Starting at the bottom of your spine, the first vertebrae is L5, then L4, then L3, L2, L1, and then your thoracic vertebrae begin..."S-1" mentioned above refers to your sacrum, or tailbone, located right below your spine. There is also a disk between L5 and S1.) Herniated disks, especially when they protrude, can put pressure on a nerve (and sometimes they can't gauge how much pressure from just an MRI), and this may cause SEVERE pain that can be almost crippling. Surgery should be somewhat of a last resort, seeing as there is no other significant spinal damage, but by no means should you rule it out if that's what it takes to help relieve your pain. There are other treatment options that you could try first, such as long-acting cortisone epidurals. Sometimes it may take up to a series of 3 before you achieve maximum pain relief, but it really is worth trying before you resort to surgery. I personally have had much success with these epidurals, in combination with physical therapy. Even now, though, I still use pain medications as needed. Another person I know who has had long-acting cortisone epidurals said that they really worked wonders at first, but as the years ped, they failed to continue to provide relief, and she found that surgery was then a good option for her. Another option is a back brace, support, or lumbar support of some kind. These can often provide relief in certain ways. When you are in a lot of pain, good posture is the last thing on your mind and this often can lead to even more pain. The down side of using a brace is that they can be awkward and sometimes restrict movement to the point that you are not able to be comfortable or perform regular tasks.....however, the function of restricting movement can be beneficial in that it can also prevent further injury. I have personally found a brace to be beneficial. I know that every person is different, and the doctors may suggest other modes of treatment that may be better suited for your treatment, but I thought I'd share my experience and insight. The only other advice that I have is to make sure that you seek treatment with a doctor that you are comfortable with, and one that is willing to answer all of your questions to your satisfaction, and one that is understanding of your needs (lifestyle, pain management, etc), because this could potentially be a long road to recovery (although I hope it is not). Don't ever be afraid to seek a second opinion or get a new doctor if you feel even slightly uncomfortable with the one you start out with, or if he/she doesn't explain every available option and encourage you to make decisions and to voice your opinion about your mode of treatment. Good luck with your treatment. I hope you are able to find relief, because nobody should have to live with that kind of pain. I hope you have found some of this helpful!