Method for recovering lost header

A method is disclosed that includes sending a first full header from a source compressor to a destination decompressor wherein the source compressor and the destination decompressor are a part of a symmetrical configuration. An IP packet including the full header is compressed into a first compressed header based on the context established in the first full header. The first compressed header is sent from the source compressor to the destination decompressor. The compressor receives a second full header from the destination compressor wherein the second full header indicates that the destination decompressor did not receive the first full header. The second full header can include a modified field or has an incremented generation identification. The source compressor sends another full header to the destination decompressor.