Spondylolisthesis

Most cases of Spondylolisthesis occur alongside a slip disc and range from mild to severe (grade 1 to grade 4), potentially causing instability. You may experience:

• Mild to severe pain in the lower back, buttocks, thigh, calf, and foot.
• Mild to severe pain in the neck, upper back, shoulder, hands, and fingers.
• Difficulty or increasing pain with lifting and bending.
• Worsening pain when resting, sitting, walking or standing.
• Back or neck pain that comes and goes.
• Stiffness or increasing pain in the morning.
• Pain radiating down one or both legs.
• Tingling, numbness, burning, imbalance or weakness in the legs and feet.
• Pain from the neck or upper back to the hands and fingers.
• Dizziness or vertigo when changing position.
• Trouble urinating or passing motion.
• Sciatica.

Some of the contributing factors include:

• Occupational sprain or strain due to bending, twisting, lifting heavy weights, or prolonged sitting or driving.
• Lifestyle issues like poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, weight gain, smoking, or lack of exercise.
• Physical causes like disc degeneration due to ageing, arthritis, tumour, trauma or infection.
• Age factors like osteoporosis (weak bones) or Degenerative Disc Disease.
• Medical conditions like obesity, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, sciatica, pregnancy, or scoliosis.
• Inflammatory conditions like Ankylosing Spondylitis or sacroiliitis.

History and physical examinations are enough to determine the cause in most cases. The doctor will clinically assess you by conducting neurological tests involving sensation, reflexes, range of motion, tenderness, muscle power, and any deformity. Correlation of clinical assessment and diagnostic imaging may be required. Tests include:

• X-ray
• MRI
• CT scan
• EMG/NCV
• DEXA scan
• Blood tests

At Spine Science & Beyond, Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression can help manage symptoms and arrest further progression of spondylolisthesis. Benefits include:

• Works on the root cause.
• Treatment with zero side effects.
• Reduces intradiscal pressure and helps the disc return to its normal state, freeing the pressed nerve.
• Improves blood circulation and promotes natural healing.
• Reduces pain and relieves nerve compression.
• Improves disc quality and height.

In cases of severe spondylolisthesis, surgery may be required. While conservative treatment cannot structurally correct spondylolisthesis, symptoms can be managed and further progression can be arrested with proper care.