The fact that the symptoms are much reduced indicates you don’t have a significant recurrent HNP. When I said ‘It is possible that a small fragment of disc migrated to the opposite side”, this means either a residual fragment or a small recurrent fragment. None-the-less, your symptoms are better so give it some time to recover. Your surgeon’s statement; “my herniation, though small, was likely so painful–because my nerve was adhered and got pinned by the extrusion” is a true statement. Nerves can “get out of the way” from an HNP is there is no scar. Scar makes the root less mobile.
It’s unlikely that disc height loss has caused foraminal or lateral recess stenosis to cause opposite sided compression.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.