What is left foraminal bulge at L4-5?

Answer 1

Looking down on the involved levels (L5-S1), the top is toward your abdomen (NOON) and the back is toward the back (6 O'clock). I'll describe what happens, referring to times on the clock. Over the years these disks begin to wear out and flatten or possibly bulge out (like squashing a marshmallow). If it is severe enough it is called a 'herniation'. If the herniation occurs at 5 o'clock or 7 o'clock, the herniation can pinch (trap) a nerve as it is preparing to leave the spinal cord and travel down the body, resulting in a severe burning pain and possibly muscle cramps if the nerve travels to the spasming muscle. If the herniation occurs at the NOON, 3 o'clock, or 9 o'clock position, since no nerves are close by, there is no pain (actually, there can be pain, but it is not from nerves being pinched... there are pain fibers in the disk). If the herniation occurs at the 6 o'clock position no nerves will be trapped or pinched because there is a lot of space in the spinal canal where the spinal cord travels. So a disc 'bulge' is just where the disk is squashed out a little toward the left. You can have some pain from that, but no spinal nerve involvement. Oh... the foramen is where area where the spinal nerve runs as it exits the spinal canal..