Reposting at first time photos had identifying info.
I had a microdiscectomy Oct 2024, after having a severely herniated l5-s1. Only severe pain and sciatica at that point no motor weakness. surgery took all my pain and symptoms away for about a year and a half.
I noticed 2 months ago I can no longer spread the toes on my left foot, and I have numbness in my calf. I scheduled an appt with my surgeon asap. I wasn’t having pain at that point just severe motor weakness in my left foot with the gas pedal motion and spreading my toes.
New MRI was ordered and I’m devastated with the results, I’ve reherniated l5-s1 slightly worse then pre surgery. Comparing MRI from pre surgery and now looks identical. I’m not having severe nerve pain like I did the first time, but it’s minor but slowly increasing as time goes on.
Also to add I have hypermobile ehlers danlos syndrome, diagnosed at age 10 (I’m 25 now) so that complicates my tissues.
My question is for people who have reherniated after a microdiscectomy, it looks like my options are a revision, or fusion. I’m absolutely opposed to a fusion right now, I know I will eventually need one in the future but I don’t wanna get into that whole saga just yet.
However with my weak tissues I’m scared if I get a revision I’m just going to reherniate again and at that point it will be a fusion
If you had a revision, did it stick? Or did you eventually have to get a fusion?
If they do reccomend fusion I will be getting a second opinion to make sure it absolutely is what is needed at this time.
Attached are the photos of my MRI, first picture is 5-16-2024 second picture is 5-1-2026
The only other difference they spotted in the most recent MRI is my l4-l5 now has DDD. First MRI I did not have that noted.