QuestionI'm not sure how familiar you are with back injuries, but I thought you may provide an objective opinion.
I had a lumbar laminectomy of the L4-5 a few years ago. Everything worked out great and I even resumed my daily jogging routine. A few weeks ago, I began experiencing the same exact sciatica down my right side as before the surgery. I had a new MRI with dye and the HNP at L4-5 has recurred. I'm weighing the alternatives. It was recommended I go through the usual physical therapy and series of epidural injections. My question is this:
Since it is a recurrance of the L4-5 herniation, isn't it a waste of time to go throught the whole injection/therapy routine again? Wouldn't it be more practical to just have surgery to repair it?
AnswerHi DJ,
If you can avoid surgery, you should. The more surgery you have the more chance of increase in scar tissue which complicates the back problem. Try conservative measures first because in many cases, disc herniations can dessicate and that relieves the problem. If all this fails, then surgery it is.
