Hi ! I suppose it could be the stenosis again, but it's more likely that the levels above/below the surgery site have failed. This happens alot after surgery. It seems that surgery causes the other levels to become unstable, and then they tend to bulge or herniate, causing lots of pain. The doctors don't tell us this -- we have to learn thru research & experience. It is sometimes called "Failed back surgery syndrome" or just Failed back syndrome.

I've had 2 open surgeries (laminectomies/diskectomies) and after each one, I had more pain than I had in the beginning! Today I'm disabled. So my advice is to avoid surgery in at ALL possible!!! Try physical therapy -- that usually helps alot.

Best of luck & let us know what the MRI says, ok? Hugs, Lee