What Causes Lower Back And Hip Pain Long After Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Posted on Sat, 9 Sep 2017

Question: HI I HAVE HAD A L4/L5 S1 SPINAL FUSION ALMOST 3 YEARS AGO. I NOW HAVE PAIN IN MY LOWER BACK AND MY RIGHT HIP. I CAN NO LONGER LAY ON MY RIGHT SIDE DUE TO THE PAIN. I HAVE A DAMAGED NERVE ROOT IN MY FUSION AND THE MUSCLES ON THE LOWER PART OF MY FUSION ARE WEAKENING. IT HURTS TO WALK TOO MUCH OR SIT TOO MUCH. I ALSO HAVE A NEW HERNIATION ABOUT MY FUSION. I HURT DAILY. I AM ON NEURONTIN WHICH TAKES CARE OF MY NEUROPATHY IN MY FEET, BUT THATS ALL.

Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Causes and Evaluation of back pain following spinal fusion

Detailed Answer:
Hello,.
Thank you for trusting HealthcareMagic

Persistent pain, muscle weakness indicated complications of sou al fusion surgery.
The nerve injuries associated with surgery, failed fusion of spine,briken metal implant or disease affecting adjacent spinal joints can be the cause of pain.
Since it has been 3 years since you had the surgery, imaging studies will help confirm the cause of persistent pain like failed fusion, broken metal implant, nerve compressionn etc
Xray and MRI scan(MRI van be safely done if titanium implants were used) of lumbar spine can confirm the diagnosis.

Physical therapy is the key to attaining muscle strength, increased range of motion and decrease the pain.However, appropriate pain management is needed to undergo Physical therapy. Since NSAIDs alone is not helping you, I would recommend adding a more potent pain killer like Tramadol to manage the pain.

Depending on the MRI scan results ,further management can be decided. In some cases a repeat surgery may become necessary.

Hope this answers your questions
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T