Is it normal to have leg or arm pain following surgery?
It is not unusual to experience mild hip/leg or shoulder blade/arm pain. This is generally related to swelling or nerve root irritation. It may be helpful to use an over-the-counter medication for inflammation, i.e., Aleve, Motrin, Nuprin, etc. (If you had a fusion you may not take these medications for several months). It is important to take these medications with food. If your extremity pain worsens, notify your physician.
