How common is it to have unresolved nerve pain in feet and legs after lower back pain surgery?

Depends: Some nerve injuries take a long time to recover, and some never do. In general, the younger and healthier you are, your chance of complete recovery is better - providing you have not waited too long and your nerve damage has not become permanent.

Quite common: Since a lower back surgery involves either disc work or unimpinging the spinal nerves, it is not uncommon for the have nerve pain in the feet and legs. Often, the pain will resolve over time, though this may take 1-2 years. If unsure or the condition is getting worse, ask your surgeon.

Pain: As already stated , see your surgeon and frequently time is the key . Always speak to your surgeon and follow up frequently.

First, is the pain : To a back issue or not ; like a peripheral neuropathy. Next was appropriate surgery done to alleviate compression on neural tissue if the source of pain. Sometimes even with appropriate decompression, there may be ongoing nerve symptoms especially if diabetic or smoker with higher failure rate of surgery. Scar tissue can also form leading to ongoing pain but with initial short term relief.