I feel for ya. My lumbar looks just like that except reverse. My cut off was at the bottom vertebrea. I had no disk but whatvwas there pinched the nerve against other side of canal. Painful as hell surgery. Was told it's not if but when I'll have another surgery. He didn't cage it because he said it would make all the herniated disk above it collapse quicker. Mainly because my spine is already collapsing. I recommend you get a 2nd opinion. It save me from being caged