Leg tinglings and muscle spasms in calves

So it sounds like you have a bad disk at L5/S1 with no sign of nerve impingement or stenosis...but you have symptoms in your lower extremities that are usually associated with the L4 through the S2 lumbar/sacral area.  I'm not a doc but have had multiple lumbar surgeries.

First, be mindful that an MRI can be "inconclusive" or not reveal everything.  That "bulging disk" may be impacting nerves they can't see clearly.  The "gold standard" test for the spine is a CT/Myelogram with contrast.  On my last L2/L3 foraminal stenosis fix, the doc next did a pain injection (under fluoroscopy) to the exact area he suspected the problem. Got some relief...he was pleased...pinpointed the surgical site.

Then he did a one-level LLIF fusion.  This is LATERAL procedure from the side...no rails and screws from the back (TLIF fusion). Best kept secret in spine surgery.  Search YouTube for "globus lateral" for a cute animation.  Replaces the bulging or calcified disk with an expandable spacer.  The best part: one night in the hospital; no brace, no rehab.  The magic bullet...see the picture...the LLIF device is right above my L3-S1 TLIF rails.

If your doc feels that a one-level fusion is your answer, find someone with LLIF experience.  What a Godsend...

Hi Chico Marx, thanks for the reply it's much appreciated. I'll look into the items you have described.  Here's my full MRI report.

MRI Report – 02/1/2017:

Normal thoracic cord, conus and cauda quina. At C5-6 there is cervical spondylosis with an osteophytic disc bar. No axial images have been obtained at this level. There is minor loss of height of T4 and T5 with no acute bone oedema.

There is disc degeneration from T4 – 5 to T7-8 with endplate changes and minor disc bulges but no cord or nerve root impingement. Further disc degeneration with endplate change only noted from T10 – 11 to L1-2. There is degeneration of the L5/S1 disc with a circumferential disc bulge.

There is bilateral facet joint degeneration at L4-5 and L5/S1 more pronounced on the left at the latter. Normal central canal and neural foramina throughout with no focal nerve root impingement at any level. There are bilateral pars defects (Spondylolysis) at the L5/S1 level with no

displacement/spondylolisthesis.

Conclusion

There is multilevel thoracolumbar disc and facet joint degeneration as described with no evidence of cord or nerve root impingement at any level.  Bilateral par defects without slip are noted at L5/S1

Most likely this is the cause. Are disc have thousands of tiny nerves in . I was told the same as u but clearly I did have nerve impingment . MRI are very good but u also need a ct . InfAct it wasn't till my surgeon did spinal fusion 10 wks ago, that he said to me afterwards lots of nerves were been impinged. Sometimes it's hard to say even from MRI . Good luck.