What Helps Nerve Pain in Legs After Back Surgery?

Are you still experiencing nerve pain in your legs after undergoing a back surgery or spinal surgery? That shooting, burning, and tingling sensation can be frustrating. But with some effective tips, you can manage the pain. So, what helps nerve pain in the legs after back surgery? Let’s explore the blog and learn what can calm down the nerves and help you get back on your feet. 

Does Nerve Pain Ever Subside After Back Surgery?

Yes, it can go away in most cases. However, it can take one year or more for full recovery. This is because spinal nerves heal gradually compared to some other tissues. In case your nerve pain does not subside after the back surgery or spinal surgery, it can be due to failed back surgery syndrome, where the procedure fails to manage pain. 

What Helps Nerve Pain in Legs After Back Surgery?

Here are the effective ways to ease nerve pain in your legs after spinal surgery:

1. Medications

These are the best medications for leg nerve pain:

• Neuropathic pain relievers: A study shows that medicines like gabapentin or pregabalin can help calm the spinal nerves and relieve pain directly.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These help alleviate mild inflammation and pain around the affected nerves.

• Muscle relaxants: In case muscle spasms are causing leg pain, these medicines can be beneficial.

• Opioids: They are prescribed in case of severe pain. As these medicines may cause side effects, they are used for a short period and cautiously.

2. Physical Therapy

• A qualified physical therapist may customize the exercise program to strengthen the muscles that help improve mobility, support the spine, and reduce nerve compression.

• The physical therapy includes stretching exercises, targeted strengthening exercises, gentle aerobic activities, and manual therapy. They help relieve pain and ease healing.

• Nerve mobilization or gliding exercises may also be suggested to reduce nerve scarring, where scar tissue sticks a nerve to nearby tissues and limits its movement.

3. Spinal Cord Stimulation

• This involves the use of a device that directly targets mild electrical impulses to the specific spinal nerves.

• These impulses, in turn, prevent the pain signals from reaching the brain.

• This effect can extremely alleviate the perception of pain and enhance the quality of life of a person. 

4. Nerve Injections

• These shorts can alleviate inflammation and interrupt the transmission of pain signals to the brain, thus relieving pain.

• For instance, epidural steroid injections that deliver the medicine near the affected spinal nerve and alleviate inflammation and pain.

• Another options include selective nerve root blocks, which are particularly used if a specific spinal nerve is causing pain.

5. Lifestyle Modifications

• Maintaining a body weight: Excessive weight can strain the spine, which can worsen the pain. So, maintain a healthy weight by consuming a well-balanced diet and practicing exercise regularly.

• Ergonomic adjustments: Ergonomically design your workstation (especially if you sit for a longer period), sleeping space, and furniture to minimize stress on the spine.

• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco: According to research, avoid these substances, as they slow down the healing process.

• Managing Stress: Practice stress management techniques like deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga to reduce stress and pain levels.

• Consuming a Nutritious Diet: Add foods rich in minerals and vitamins, like lean proteins and fortified foods, to your diet to support nerve health. Also, have anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, veggies, and omega-3 fatty acids to enhance recovery by boosting immunity. 

• Getting Enough Rest: Aim to sleep for 8-9 hours each day to allow the body to heal well. Take breaks and avoid overexertion when needed. 

6. Complementary Therapies

• Acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care may also offer additional relief from nerve pain in the legs for some individuals.

• These therapies assist in realigning the spine or triggering the nerve pathways.

• Moreover, mind-body techniques such as biofeedback or meditation can also help address prolonged pain perception and relieve stress, which are responsible for increasing pain.

What Helps Nerve Pain in Legs After Back Surgery: At-Home Tips 

These are the effective home remedies for nerve pain:

1. Use Heat and Cold Therapy

2. Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medications

3. Practice Gentle Stretching & Yoga

• Practice yoga poses (e.g., Child’s Pose and Reclined Pigeon) and gentle stretching (e.g., Hamstring Stretch and Hip Flexor Stretch) regularly. They can help enhance mobility, flexibility, and alleviate leg nerve pain. 

4. Elevate the Legs

• Putting extra pillows under your legs can improve blood flow to the affected area and reduce swelling. This, in turn, can reduce strain on the nerves and relieve pain.

5. Wear Compression Socks or Wraps

• By applying gentle pressure on the legs, they boost blood flow and reduce swelling, which allows appropriate delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the nerve cells, supporting healing.

6. Maintain a Good Posture

How Long Does It Take for Nerve Pain to Heal After Spinal Surgery?

In general, it takes several weeks, months, and even one entire year or longer for nerve pain to heal post-back or spinal surgery. However, the recovery period can vary based on factors such as the extent of nerve damage, the type of surgical procedure, and overall health. Some recover quickly within a few days of surgery, while others may notice slow improvements.

Here are the signs that indicate nerve healing after the surgery:

• Slow relief from referred pain

• No pain while moving

• Low numbness and tingling

• Enhanced muscle strength in the impacted area

• Improved range of motion and mobility in the spine

• Restored sensation in the impacted area

• Mild itching in the healing part

When to Seek Medical Help?

If your pain is severe, persistent, or worsens after trying these measures, consult a doctor. This could be a sign of complications such as failed back surgery syndrome, scar tissue, or recurrent disc herniation. In this case, the doctors may suggest revision surgery to correct the previous surgical procedure.

Moreover, seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following new or worsening symptoms:

• Increased swelling

• Redness

• Fever

Why Does Nerve Pain Occur in the Legs After Back Surgery?

It occurs due to the following reasons:

• Nerve damage or irritation during back surgery: Accidental stretching, compression, or cut during the surgery can cause nerve pain.

• Inflammation in the surrounding tissues: This can put strain on surrounding nerves, which can trigger pain.

• Incomplete decompression: This can leave certain nerve roots still irritated or compressed, resulting in persistent leg pain.

• Scar tissue formation around the nerve roots: This can irritate or compress the nerves, causing pain, tingling, and numbness.

• Pre-existing nerve conditions: These include diabetic neuropathy, which affects nerve health and makes diabetic people more prone to nerve pain and damage.

Previous Medical Issues that Cause Leg Pain Post Spine Surgery

In rare cases, the previous medical issues may be responsible for continued leg pain after spine surgery due to less reversible nerve damage. Those issues include:

• Leg numbness that didn’t subside with rest before the surgery.

• A foot drop that can lead to disturbance of walking

• Leg numbness due to lumbar spinal stenosis

• Diabetic neuropathy that results from damage to the small blood vessels, leading to permanent nerve problems.

• Deficiencies of vitamins, like vitamin B12, B6, and minerals, such as copper, and medications such as chemotherapy agents (e.g., bortezomib).

• Mental problems, like depression and anxiety, and frequent habits, like smoking and alcohol, are associated with a high chance of failed back or spinal surgery and delayed recovery.

Final Thoughts

We hope you learn about all the measures if you are wondering what can help nerve pain in legs after back surgery. From medications and physical therapy to nerve blocks or injections and lifestyle modifications, these options can be beneficial in managing nerve pain and promoting healing. Also, at-home tips can be helpful. If you still experience nerve pain, see a doctor, as it may indicate failure of previous back surgery and the need for revision surgery. 

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