Dr. Corenman,
Just wanted to update you and the community (in case there are others in my shoes) that my repeat MRI, about 4 months post the first one, showed that herniation is stable and unchanged from previous one and that “there is a large soft, posterior lateral herniated disc with inferiorly migrated fragment on right side. This measures 1cm x 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm by transverse by craniocaudal dimensions. This compresses the ventral dural sac on the right side and the right L5 nerve root. All other discs are unremarkable.” To my naked laywoman eye, the herniation seemed even bigger than before…but I am not a radiologist.
The hopeless optimist in me was hoping for some shrinkage especially having read several recent research articles stating that the largest herniations have the most likelihood of absorption. Is there any validity to those studies or am I the exception? Does that mean the disc is less likely to re-absorp if I wait?
I am scheduled for microdistectomy next Thursday. My symptoms are the same (no noticeable motor weakness, but discomfort and pressure pain that wakes me up at night but slightly improved. Is it worth me waiting longer given my symptoms have slightly improved? Now I can sleep for 6 hours versus four hours before woken up by pain. Or will I risk nerve damage by waiting?