Buttock Pain After Laminectomy
After undergoing laminectomy to alleviate chronic back or nerve pain, you’ll look forward to pain-free days and greater mobility. But, what if your pain doesn’t fully disappear, or new pain appears? For some patients, this is an unfortunate reality.
Buttock pain after laminectomy is possible, particularly in patients who develop post-laminectomy syndrome or piriformis syndrome. Read on to learn more about this problem and what can be done to resolve it.
Table of Contents
- Why Do I Feel Buttock Pain After Laminectomy Surgery?
- Why Is Sitting Bad After Laminectomy?
- How Long After Laminectomy Can I Bend?
- What Is the Best Exercise After a Laminectomy If I Have Buttock Pain?
Why Do I Feel Buttock Pain After Laminectomy Surgery?
You may feel buttock pain after laminectomy surgery because of post-laminectomy syndrome or piriformis syndrome.
What is Post-Laminectomy Syndrome?
Post-laminectomy syndrome is the term used for chronic pain after a laminectomy. A laminectomy is a common procedure used to decompress impinged spinal nerves by removing some or all of the lamina.
Although laminectomy is a popular, time-tested procedure for conditions like spinal stenosis and herniated disc, it causes post-laminectomy syndrome in some patients. Also known as failed back surgery syndrome, post-laminectomy syndrome can cause symptoms including:
- Back pain
- Leg pain
- Numbness, tingling, and weakness that radiates from the back to the lower extremities
- Back stiffness
- Reduced range of motion in the back and lower extremities
- Buttock pain
Post-laminectomy syndrome can cause buttock pain resulting from lumbar nerve impingement. Often, the patient experiences buttock pain from sciatic nerve impingement, or sciatica. The sciatic nerve begins in the lumbar spine and extends through the buttocks, then down the backs of the legs.
Scar tissue, recurring spinal stenosis or herniated disc, insufficient nerve decompression, and inflammation can cause or contribute to pain from post-laminectomy syndrome.
Piriformis Syndrome After Laminectomy
Buttock pain after laminectomy can result from piriformis syndrome. Piriformis syndrome results from the piriformis muscle pressing on the sciatic nerve. The most common symptom of this condition is buttock pain that worsens after walking, running, or sitting for prolonged periods.
Piriformis syndrome can also cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the buttocks. These neurological symptoms may radiate down the backs of the legs and even to the feet.
Possible causes of piriformis syndrome are inflammation in the piriformis or surrounding tissues, scarring in the piriformis muscle, and muscle spasms. It’s possible to develop these issues after laminectomy, especially if you sit for prolonged periods or develop tight muscles from inactivity.
Why Is Sitting Bad After Laminectomy?
Sitting is bad after laminectomy for prolonged periods because it puts added stress on the spine and reduces blood flow to the healing tissue.
Additionally, when you sit for long periods, it becomes more difficult to maintain good posture. If you hunch over or slouch, it places even more stress on the spine. This can lead to inflammation and ultimately compromise your recovery process.
While it’s important to rest and limit strenuous physical activity in the early stages of your laminectomy recovery, avoid prolonged sitting and bed rest. When you do sit down, follow these tips to reduce impact on the spine:
- Take a break from sitting every 30 to 45 minutes. Stand up, gently stretch, and, if possible, take a short stroll – even if it’s just around your office.
- Invest in a rolling chair with robust lumbar spine support. A rolling chair keeps you from having to twist the spine
How Long After Laminectomy Can I Bend?
You can bend approximately one to two months after laminectomy. Your surgeon will provide detailed instructions based on your condition, age, procedure, and medical history.
Surgeons recommend avoiding bending, twisting, and stooping for at least a few weeks after laminectomy. This is because bending and extending the spine puts pressure on the surgical site. Excessive pressure on this area can increase inflammation, trigger tissue damage, and compromise the healing process, increasing the risk of post-laminectomy syndrome.
Are There Permanent Restrictions After a Laminectomy?
Permanent restrictions after a laminectomy can vary from patient to patient. If you undergo laminectomy with fusion, your spinal mobility will be permanently restricted at the fused level. You may also have to avoid certain activities, like heavy weightlifting and gymnastics, that place extreme stress on the spine.
What Is the Best Exercise After a Laminectomy If I Have Buttock Pain?
The best exercise after a laminectomy if you have buttock pain is a piriformis stretch, which stretches the buttocks and surrounding muscles.
To perform a piriformis stretch, complete these steps:
- Lay flat on your back with your knees bent.
- Cross one leg over the other.
- Place your hands behind the opposite knee, gently pulling it toward your chest until you feel a gentle stretch in your buttocks.
- Hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds, then release and repeat with the opposite leg.
- Note: To deepen the stretch, you can cross your leg over the other at the mid-calf or ankle, creating a “figure 4” position”.
Other exercises that can benefit your recovery process after a laminectomy if you have buttock pain include:
- Knee-to-chest stretch
- Lie on your back with your legs extended.
- Use your abdominal muscles to lift one leg toward you, placing your hands behind the knee.
- On an exhale, gently pull the leg toward your chest until you feel a stretch in the back of the leg.
- Bird dog stretch
- Begin on all fours, with your hands and knees on the ground.
- Lift your arm to shoulder height.
- Engage your abdominal muscles, then lift the opposite leg behind you (keeping your arm lifted). Your arm and leg should be on the same plane as the rest of your body.
- Hold this position for 15 to 20 seconds, then repeat on the other side.
- Foot taps
- Lie on your back with your knees bent.
- Engage your abdominal muscles to lift one foot off of the ground, with your leg bent at a right angle.
- Keeping your abdominals engaged, lift your other foot up to the same position.
- Lower one leg at a time back to the ground.
- Repeat this exercise for around 10 sets.
Talk to your surgeon or physical therapists before attempting these exercises after a laminectomy.
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