Objective To observe the short-term clinical effect of foraminoscopy in the treatment of lumbar disc bulging with lateral recess stenosis by preserving the intervertebral disc. Methods The clinical data of 26 patients with lateral recess stenosis and disc bulging treated by foraminoscopy from May 2017 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry dysfunction index(ODI)and modified MacNab efficacy evaluation criteria were used to analyze and evaluate the outcomes pre-operatively and 1 day, 1 month, 3 months post-operatively, and the last follow-up. Result All patients were followed up for 5 to 17 months, with an average of 9 months. The VAS score of leg pain before operation was(6.8±1.3), 1 day, 1 month, 3 months and the last follow-up were(2.1±0.9),(1.9 ±1.0),(1.8±0.7),(1.4±0.5), respetively. The ODI score before operation was(53.50±14.50). The ODI score for 1 day, 1 month, 3 months post-operation, and the last follow-up were(21.00±13.50),(16.50±10.50),(12.50±8.00),(10.50±7.50), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05)The results of modified MacNab were excellent in 11 cases, good in 12 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case. The excellent and good rate was 88.5%. Conclusion It is a safe and effective minimally invasive method to treat lateral recess stenosis with bulging disc by preserving intervertebral disc under foramen endoscopy.