Although a diagnosis of spondylolisthesis (pronounced “spon-dl-oh-lis-THEE-sis) might sound intimidating, it is not necessarily a cause for concern. Despite the long name, this is a common condition that affects over three million Americans each year.
Spondylolistheis is often diagnosed in people who are born with a defect of the backbones. Additionally, like many other back problems, spondylolisthesis may appear as the spine wears down with age or repeated injuries. Although spondylolisthesis does not go away on its own, the pain can improve with medications, physical therapy, and treatments from a pain specialist.
Some facts about spondylolisthesis:
Spondylolisthesis involves an abnormal shift in the backbones — the spine's building blocks that support the body and hold it upright. The backbones are stacked one on top of the other throughout the length of the spine. Between a backbone and the one above there is a cartilage disc and small joints that absorb shocks when a person moves.
The symptoms depend on the place in the spine where there is a shift between backbones. Spondylolisthesis most often affects the L4-L5 backbones in the low back area.
A person may complain of:
A first step in diagnosing this condition is obtaining a patient history and performing a physical exam. People with spondylolisthesis may have difficulty raising their leg straight outward during simple exercises.
The following imaging tests help:
While this condition won’t go away most people find relief through rest, medications, weight-loss, physical therapy, and wearing a back brace. For mild to moderate pain, a pain specialist can offer injections and minimally invasive procedures that relieve pain without surgery (see treatments below). In cases where the backbones shift significantly and a person has severe, continuous pain, you may need to see a surgeon for evaluation and a possible spinal fusion surgery.
For more information about the treatments offered by pain specialists, click on the terms below.
TREATMENTS:
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