When you’ve just had spine surgery and your leg starts to hurt, it can be confusing and frustrating to try and determine what’s causing the issue and how to treat it. So what could be causing pain in the thigh following a minimally invasive spinal procedure? We’ll investigate in this patient education article, and talk about some options for treatment.
Post-Op Spine Surgery Pain
The spine’s importance in the overall functionality of the body cannot be overstated. The central nerves run from the brain, through the spine, and to all the other regions of the body. These nerves make it possible for us to feel pain, walk, raise our arms, and perform basic motor skills. All that goes to say that when a problem arises in the spine, it can manifest itself in other areas of the body. So if a nerve gets pinched or damaged at a specific level of the spine, the patient may very well experience pain or numbness in their thigh, because the nerve “signals” have been disrupted.
Treating & Preventing Post-Op Surgical Pain
Treating nerve pain that manifest in other areas of the body is a matter of isolating the specific nerve causing the issue and addressing it head on. Typically this means freeing up the nerve from any bulging discs, vertebral fragments, or other surrounding structures that are impeding the nerve with surgery.
That being said, the best way to prevent pain in the thigh and other regions of the body after spine surgery is to find a great surgeon and the least invasive surgery possible. And after your procedure, it’s equally important to meet with a physical therapist to develop a rehabilitation strategy.
The experienced physical therapists at OrthoRehab Specialists have been helping patients recover from post-operative pain for the past twenty-five years. We offer direct access to care to patients throughout the state of Minnesota. If you’re experiencing pain in your leg after spine surgery, contact our Edina or Minneapolis clinics today to set up your appointment and see how physical therapy can help you live a happier life.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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