Hip pain following spinal fusion surgery is rather typical. However, obtaining alleviation necessitates determining the underlying problem.

Spinal fusion is a surgical operation that connects (fuses) two or more vertebrae. It is frequently done to relieve pain and improve spinal stability.

While it can be a beneficial operation for many, it can occasionally result in new difficulties such as hip or pelvic pain. This is frequently due to the link between the spine and hip, which might be harmed following surgery.

If you've had spinal fusion surgery and are experiencing hip pain, you may be wondering if the two are related.

Read on to find out more about the spine-hip link, the causes of hip pain after spinal fusion, and your treatment choices.

The connection between the spine and hip

Your bones and muscles are linked from your head to your toes to help you move around.

The pelvis and spine, in particular, connect your upper body to your lower body. These two are linked by the sacroiliac (SI) joint, which joins each side of the sacrum (the bottom of your spine) to the ilium's inner surface (the butterfly-shaped hip bone).

The acetabulum, a hip socket that holds your femur bone in place, connects your pelvis to your femur (thigh bone).

Because your pelvis and spine are so tightly linked and play such an important part in the movement, problems in one might impact the other.

Potential causes of pain

You'll need time to heal after spinal fusion surgery, meaning you'll be less active. Your muscles may tense and act differently than usual to protect yourself while you heal.

For example, your hip flexors may stiffen, putting additional strain on your hips and producing further pain.

Because the spine — particularly the lumbar spine — and hips are inextricably linked, decreased lumbar spine mobility may increase reliance and stress on the pelvis and hips to maintain posture and support movement.

Spinal fusion is known to produce alterations in posture and gait (walking and balance) and may need overcompensation of the hips and pelvis, resulting in pain or discomfort. Furthermore, increased stress on the sacroiliac joint may result in increased pain.

Hip pain after spinal fusion can be caused by a variety of factors. But the main causes are:

• A larger stress on the SI joint after the procedure.
• Back problems were misdiagnosed as hip problems.
• Harvesting bone grafts in the iliac joint (near the SI joint).
• The hip-spine syndrome refers to problems with both the spine and the hip.

Muscle weakness may also occur after surgery, which is why physical therapy is frequently prescribed.

Prevalence of pain after spinal fusion

Hip discomfort, particularly SI joint pain, is extremely frequent after spinal fusion surgery, affecting an estimated 32-42% of patients.

This number, however, includes patients who may have had pre-existing SI pain before surgery. According to the study, approximately 12.6% of patients experienced new SI pain following lumbar spinal fusion.

Treating hip pain after spinal fusion

Because hip discomfort after spinal fusion is multifactorial, you'll need to work closely with your healthcare expert to receive a proper assessment, especially if the pain does not improve or worsens following recovery from surgery.

Conservative therapies, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), wearing a pelvic belt to reduce hip mobility and physical therapy are likely to be recommended first.

During physical therapy, your therapist may use tactics to help improve pelvic stability, restore posture and balance, correct any walking and balancing problems, and strengthen your surrounding musculature.

If conservative therapies fail, steroid injections or surgery may be required.

In conclusion

Since the hips and spine are so tightly linked, if one is injured or has restricted mobility, the other may have to compensate.

To improve your post-surgical prognosis, make sure you and your surgeon have a good grasp of any other co-existing hip and pelvic disorders before opting to undergo spinal fusion surgery.

Following spinal fusion surgery, the hips frequently have to "pick up the slack" from the spine, which can cause pain or discomfort.

Your healthcare practitioner may offer first-line treatments such as pain medication or physical therapy to improve strength, posture, and hip stability to t ease this pain. Additional surgery may be required in rare circumstances.

If you feel that a spinal fusion causes your hip discomfort, consult with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment for you.