How Your Foot Surgery Caused Your Back Pain

Over the years I have run into a ton of you who have had foot surgery, myself included. I have also seen a number of you start having back pain after your foot surgery. Here is where I will tell you why that happens.

Foot Surgery

You may have had, or will have, a surgery to correct something with your foot and/or ankle. This may be to repair some ligaments, have a plantar fascia release, or have a bunionectomy. It is not really important what you have done, but that you have surgery. After surgery you may or not be able to walk. Most of the time, when you do get to walk (whether the same day, or down the road) you will have a walking boot.

The walking boot is great! It allows pressure to be distributed throughout the foot and the boot itself taking pressure off of your foot. It has a really thick, padded sole (bottom of the boot). This allows your foot to heal and fully recover.

The Walking Boot

For all of the good a walking boot does, it does change the way that you walk! If you don't walk a lot, this may not be an issue for you. If you are on your feet a lot the walking boot's thickness may change the way you stand and walk. This can cause one side of your pelvis to shift up. When this happens, the natural thing for your back to do is to bend sideways, to keep your chest and head straight!!

Back Pain Post Foot Surgery

Due to the positioning of the hips, pelvis, and back in adjustment to the boot there may be some associated back pain. Back pain may also occur if you are off of your feet for an extended amount of time due to your surgical procedure. Your back supporting musculature (including your hips and legs) may atrophy to some extent. This may cause these muscles to overwork, also leading to back pain.

Preventing Post Op Back Pain

To prevent back pain from occurring after your foot/ankle surgery, there are a few things that you can do right now to help.

1. You can stay fit. Continuing to work on your upper body from the waist up will help prevent your back and hip muscles from atrophy.

2. Balance out the boot. Find a thick shoe to wear on the non-surgical foot. This will help keep your hips, pelvis, and back from getting out of position.

If you do these two things, you can prevent yourself from getting back pain after you have a surgical procedure on your foot or ankle.

If you are having back pain associated with your foot surgery, or just have foot pain, search for our foot pain related blog posts. (here, here, here, here)