First- please let me know the level of the herniation. Is it mid back (thoracic spine) or lower back (lumbar spine)?
Any time you have a known preexisting hernation with worsening symptoms, one of the first questions should be if the symptoms are the same but with greater intensity or are the symptoms different. The reason is due to either recurrent herniation or a hernation at a new level.
A recurrent hernation at a previously herniated level will typically intensify preexisting symptoms and a hernation at a new level will typically yield different symptoms.
In either case in my opinion, a new MRI should be considered.
Dr. Corenman