Are you having any numbness in your arms? Did you go to ER because of the pain for them to order the MRI?
I would call your surgeon to see him and follow up. I know sometimes herniations are reabsorbed by the body and heal. I'm hoping that will happen for me and I'm waiting it out with meds and pain management. I don't know if herniations could heal on their own after surgery. Of course I'm not a Doctor and only like you say speculating. Keep us posted what your Doctor has to say. Take care. Charry

The pain I am having now is actually less than that prior to fusion. Neck ache, headache, shoulders but like prior to fusion I have electrical sensations down my back and into my leg. Since it has cord contact it is kinda different than a nerve.

I am still waiting to see if my surgeon will get me in. He wants to view films first. I may have to hand deliver them!

Cindee

I'm looking at your films and wondering which levels you had done previously. Is it 5-6 and 6-7? How long has it been since your first surgery?

Sorry for the herniation. I don't have any answers for you, just wanted to offer my support. That is a bummer that you have another herniation, and that it has cord compression. Let us know what the doctor says.

I had a ACDF 5-6 and 6-7 in July of 05. These were smaller bulges and one herniated prior to surgery. One actually was mildly deforming the cord at that time.

A lot of my problem is that the AP diameter of the canal is narrow to begin with.

Thanks for your thoughts and support. I will post doctor news when I here from him.

Cindee

I finally visited with my Ortho Surgeon Monday last week. He did say that herniations have been know to reabsorb. Time frame that was given was 3 weeks, 3 months,3 years or never.

He asked if this was affecting my daily life. Yes it is! He suggested surgery if I want. He isn't pushy at all. He did not seem to concerned because the herniation was left instead of centrally herniated.

I am trying to schedule surgery for the 11th or 12th of this month.

He is doing a C 4-5 fusion. I will have the plate for the 5-6-7 removed and a smaller plate with 4 screws this time.

I don't like the fact that something is on my cord.

Who here had the domino effect and did the second surgery help? I am only 3 1/2 years from first surgery although the 4-5 disk was a small bulge at the time of that surgery. I guess it was bound to go at some point.

My herniations keep going into the canal and messing with my spinal cord.

Am I making the right decison or am I making matter worse?

Cindee

I had ACDF back in March of '07. I am now having problems with my C4-5 with bulging and retrolisthesis. I see my surgeon on Friday, Dec. 5th. Pretty sure I will be having 1 or 2 more levels done. Luckily when my surgeon did my first surgery he put the newer hardware in that can simply be added to if ever needed. There are predrilled holes in the plate to add additional levels.
Good luck to you

Thanks Tom.

You will have to let me know how your visit goes with the surgeon. It hasn't been that long since your first surgery. What levels did you have done?

That is cool that the plate can just be added to! Not that we want more surgery but I am sure it will lessen the time your under.

Cindee