broad based disk bulge which indents the thecal sac

Hello all,

I'm from the UK and new to the forums. I have been suffering with low back pains and spasms on and off for almost a year now resulting in a total of 6-8 weeks off work. I am an engineer that requires lots of heavy lifting and leaning forwards with the weight out in front of me to load into cnc machines.

As of this week I have had an mri scan with the results:

mri spine Lumber/sacral: No abnormal bone signal. No malignant. No disk degeneration at L4/5 level, other lumber disks well preserved. Conus ends at L1/2 appears unremarkable.

At L3/4 no traversing or exiting root compression.

At L4/5 broad based disk bulge which indents the thecal sac, but no traversing root displacement or compression. Exiting roots unremarkable. Mild facet flaval hypertrophy.

At L5/s1 no traversing or exiting root compression.

I have been informed that physical therapy is needed and to see how things pan out..

I am on 2week sick at the moment from work with sick note stating amended duties, boss unable to let me work! I am in no real pain now but feel very uncomfortable with dull aches and stiffness in the left side of my lower back and bottom, and at times my left thigh. Also I feel very unsure of myself.

I feel that my job has put me in this situation and I do not know what I should do about it. I do not feel that I can do that job as is, but I feel I can work whilst on the move, ie: walking.

I feel like I'm in a sticky situation as this could last some time and my back will always be weak, more so doing that job as is!

Can anybody give me some pointers and maybe put my mind at rest. I am a nervous wreak right now as all I can think about is how am I going to pay the mortgage?.

Thanks in advance and sorry if any of what's said is off topic.