[deritis]

#11434

Hi Dr. Corenman. I’ve posted before several months ago. I have one simple question: is it normal to have sciatic pain nearly 10 mos after reherniation / 11 months after surgery at L5S1? I had a herniation that got progressively worse over three months, with the nerve root trapped so that there was an explosion of tingling pain every time I stood up — debilitating level 10. Surgery fixed that. And for a month I was fine. Then a small reherniation happened. Pain then was a 7. Now it’s about a 3. And since I have modified my workout routine, I have had periods over the summer where my pain was only noticeable if I stretched in certain positions. So while things have improved, they have not faded away. This seems like a long time for the nerve to heal. There is no muscle weakness and never has been. My doctor says simply that the nerve is just not healing fast and that it is inflamed. Ibuprofen helps immensely. I’ve read it can take a year or even longer for the pain to settle down. Is that true? Would love your perspective. Thank you.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#11447

A reherniation changes the picture completely. The nerve does not have as much excursion (the ability to “get out of the way”) after the initial herniation. This is due to some scar (whether you have or have not had surgery). A recurrent herniation does not have to be as big as the first one to create havoc.

A new MRI would be in order to see if that second herniation has shrunk or even if you have now another recurrent herniation (not unusual).

Dr. Corenman

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