Underlying all of this is a need to understand the microdiscectomy itself. Until the last decade, surgeons had one choice, called the "ACDF" procedure where the spinal disc was removed and the two vertebrae were fused together. For obvious reasons, an NFL player's career would be all but over after spinal fusion, and for a QB, it's just not reasonable. The microdiscectomy doesn't remove the disc, but basically creates a tunnel for the nerve to come out without being impinged by removing portions of the disc, and, if necessary, the surrounding joint. The danger is that there's further swelling or that scar tissue closes up the tunnel. It's easy enough to find YouTube videos if you'd like to see the procedure.
After surgery, the major issue is allowing the nerve to regenerate, which happens at a rate of about one millimeter a day. It's different in every person, but normally, regeneration happens quickly at first, but then flattens out. This is precisely what's being described about Manning, though it's happening at a much later date. No procedure will speed this. Speculation that there's scar tissue near the nerve hasn't been borne out, though some of the advanced diagnostic techniques Manning underwent on Monday may help determine this.
Dr. Neel Anand, the director of spinal surgery at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, told me that recovery for this kind of situation can take up to a year.
