Abstract
This report illustrates a case of lumbar disc herniation which serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies disclosed the unequivocal regression and recurrence without surgical treatment. A 37-year-old man had an episode of acute low back pain and right radicular pain after a heavy lifting work. The initial MRI revealed sequestrated disc herniation at L4-5 disc space which migrated to the level of L4 vertebral body. The patient was managed conservatively, and he was almost asymptomatic in 8 weeks. The second MRI of 4 months after initial take, revealed dramatic regression of the sequestered disc material.However, he experienced the recurrence of the symptoms without cause one year later. The third MRI showed the recurrence of disc herniation at the level of L4-5 disc space. Again he was managed conservatively, and he was almost asymptomatic in 10 weeks. The fourth MRI of 5 months after recurrence disclosed obvious reduction of disc herniation again. This report demonstrated one of the mechanism of the remission and the recurrence of the symptoms of sciatica patients after conservative treatment.
