Hip pain after lumbar arthrodesis: What connection?

La hip pain after spinal arthrodesis is a common complaint, but it is usually transient and resolves quickly.

In this article, we will explore the possible causes of the hip pain after lumbar arthrodesis and ways to relieve it.

Lumbar Spine and Hip Anatomy

La lumbar spine is composed of five vertebrae, which are the bones that make up the spine. The vertebrae are connected by ligaments and muscles, and are cushioned by intervertebral discs.

The discs consist of a tough outer layer and a gelatinous center, and act as shock absorbers for the spine. The lumbar spine is responsible for most of the body weight, and it is this weight that can lead to hip pain after lumbar fusion.

In fact, weight-bearing leads to compression of the vertebrae, which can irritate the nerves that run the column. In addition, excessive weight bearing can also cause the discs to protrude or rupture in some rare cases, which worsens the pain.

La hip pain after spinal arthrodesis is a common complication of this surgery, and it can be treated with a physical therapy, pain medication and/or injections.

Lumbar arthrodesis

arthrodesis lumbar is a surgical procedure that involves a fusion of the lumbar spine. This operation is performed to relieve the pain and improve column stability.

The surgeon uses bone grafts and metal implants to perform the fusion. In some cases, only two or three vertebrae are fused together.

There are several types of surgical approaches, such as anterior lumbar arthrodesis, lateral or posterior.

Lumbar arthrodesis is a complex surgical procedure, which is usually performed only when other methods, such as physical therapy and medication, have not brought relief.

The operation carries a risk of complications, such as infection or nerve damage. It is not uncommon to feel pain after the operation, and these are variable duration depending on the patient's condition and pre-existing symptoms.

However, lumbar arthrodesis can be successful in relieving the pain and improve the stability of the spine.

Hip pain following spinal arthrodesis

La hip pain following spinal arthrodesis is a common complaint. Lumbar arthrodesis is a surgical procedure used to fuse two or more vertebrae in the lower back.

This surgery is often used to treat degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and other conditions that cause chronic back pain. While lumbar arthrodesis can be effective in relieving pain, it can also lead to hip pain new or aggravated.

How the body compensates

When the lumbar spine is merged, the hip joint must support a greater load. This new heavy workload may cause pain in the region of hip.

To avoid this problem, the body will often compensate by shifting its center of gravity. The knees and ankles are then more stressed, which can lead to new potential problems such as osteoarthritis. In order to avoid these complications, it is important to keep the hips healthy and strong after lumbar surgery.

Regular exercise and stretching can help maintain range of motion. movements and to prevent the stiffness. A physiotherapy (Physiotherapy) can help you relax the muscles and relieve pain and improve function.

Also, using a cane or a walker can help take the strain off the hips and knees. With proper care, it is possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle despite the lumbar fusion surgery.

Initial hip pain lameness

La lameness is most often due to a hip stiffness, which may reflect the presence of joint effusion. The picture can therefore be confused with transient acute synovitis.

Additionally, lameness will also increase stress on the hip joint, causing joint overload and pain over time.

In short, this type of hip pain is usually caused by joint stiffness and overloading of adjacent anatomical structures, and usually resolves over time when the gait pattern is corrected.

Muscular weakness of the spinal and gluteal muscles

Hip pain after lumbar spinal fusion can also be caused by muscle weakness in the muscles spinal and gluteal. This can cause indirect pain in the hip and legs, as these muscles help support and stabilize the hip joint and the lower limbs.

Weakened muscles may not be able to properly support the hip, leading to increased hip stress and ultimately pain. The weakness of the glutes can be highlighted thanks to the Tredenlenburg test.

Furthermore, the decrease in hip stability may cause other problems, such as a conflict or bursitis.

For these reasons, it is important to strengthen the muscles surrounding after lumbar arthrodesis.

Spinal stiffness 

The hip joint is a complex and delicate structure that is stabilized by muscles and ligaments.

The instability of the spine may require these muscles and ligaments to work harder to stabilize the hip joint, which leads to stiffness. In some cases, this consequence can also lead to an overload of the hip joint, even up to hip osteoarthritis in some cases.

To know everything about hip osteoarthritis, see the following article.

THINGS TO DO

If you feel a hip pain after spinal arthrodesis, there are several things you can do to relieve the pain:

Consult a healthcare professional to determine the specific cause

La hip pain can be caused by several different factors, and it is important to consult a medical professional to determine the precise cause. hip pain can be caused by nerve compression, muscle spasm or inflammation.

Hip pain can also be caused by weight bearing on the hip, which is often necessary after a lumbar arthrodesis.

The treatment of hip pain after a lumbar arthrodesis usually includes physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and occasional injections of local anesthetic or steroids.

Conventional pain management strategies

La hip pain is a common complaint after spinal arthrodesis, and it can be difficult to manage. There are a few stratégies conventional pain management which may be helpful, including:

• Rest, and avoidance of risky activities (such as conduct, lifting loads, etc.)
• physiotherapy: physiotherapy (physiotherapy) can help improve range of motion and strength, which can help reduce pain.
• Medications: Medications, such as anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants, can also be helpful in reducing the pain.
• Nerve blocks: Nerve blocks can be used to target specific nerves causing pain.

La hip pain after spinal arthrodesis can be difficult to manage, but a few conventional strategies can help.

Maximize core and hip mobility and strength 

There are several ways to optimize mobility and strength of the hip after surgery. First of all, it is important to respect the postoperative protocol. This means following doctor's orders and not overdoing it.

Secondly, physiotherapy (physiotherapy) can be extremely helpful in regaining range of motion and strengthening the muscles around the hip. Third, regular exercise is important for maintaining muscle mass and bone density.

Finally, stretching and massage can help reduce the muscle tension and improve flexibility.

By following these steps, you can help your hip remains healthy and strong after the operation.