Degenerated L3/4 spondolyethesis

i too have lumber spondylolisthesis, L3/4 i havent had any treatment but wonderingwhat todo as it is structural and i do not see how inectione would work.

ellen, I have been dealing spondylisthesis of L3-L4 and am scheduled to have a fusion of l3-l4, having already had a fusion of L4- L5  6 years ago. I haven't been able to walk or stand for an period of time for over ayear and dealt with bad pain at times. Most nights I take 200 mg/tramadol to sleep. I tried injections , physical theraphy and it finally is time to try surgery as i got great success with my last fusion. I know I don't have the answers but I will only leave my back in the hands of a well know neurosurgeon.

I will hopefully will have a good oputcome!

Hello Ellen, I live in South Carolina. I have had back problems for a long time and the meds are almost worst then the pain. Since Tramadol doesn't have the awful side effects that opiates do, I take that when needed. Luckly when I sit I am not in pain. My operation is October 28, so wish me luck!

Hi ellen I have recently had facet joint injection into L3/L4 they did help but it was really only a couple of weeks and I was back to the Osteopath. I am going to the Hospital on Thursday to see about Rhizotomy procedure as suggested if these work I believe they kill the nerve to the joint so pain doesnt get to the brain and it take roughly a year for the nerve to grow back as I have had a fusion in 2009 which failed as the bone didnt graft I dont think I could face another operation so am going to give it a try. I am in Uk I hope this helps a bit, I am seeing the Osteopath nearly every week but its the only way I can get some relief I have not been able to work for many years now although up until 3 weeks ago was caring for my mother with dementia until she fell and broke her hip going to the hospital twice a day to keep her calm and help her eat is really tiring but when you are in pain it seems to make it so much worse. I hope you get some help soon.

My next step after having injections,,,about 6 I believe before the pain specialist referred me to a neurosurgeon. The nurosurgeon had me do a MRI with contrast and what the MRI showed was not something facet joint injections would have helped with and unfortunately my only option was surgery. Have you met with a neurosurgeon yet?

Sorry taken so long to reply have been up and down the Hospital visit mum inbetween seeing the Osteopath to keep me going!! I have been getting carers allowance and mums attendance allowance plus my husband is still working but unfortunately I cant have her back home because of all the bending/twisting she will need and if she falls again I wont be able to help her.So financially it will change, I live on the Isle of Wight.  I went to the Hospital Thursday and have decided to try the rhyzotomy. Have been reading a book by dr john Sarno called heal your back pain its a totally different point of view to backpain but really worth a read. Would you be able to afford to see your consultant privately and then transfer to nhs I did this and used the choose and book scheme so am now treated in London by the consultant but on the nhs. It certainly worked out a lot quicker.  I hope your pain isnt too bad today, please let me know how you are getting on.

Have you had an x-ray or MRI? I had L5 S1 surgery almost one year ago.  It is taking time to heal.  I had it done by a neuro surgeon in USA.  I worry about the leg symptoms you are now having.  That is something you shouldn't ignor.  Let me know if I can help in anyway possible.

It is important to know if you had, say, 80-100% relief of the low back pain for a week.  If so, that strongly suggests that the facets are the source of your pain.  In that case, most physicians would follow-up with a second set of the same facet injections to see if you again had dramatic relief that lasted for at least several days.  Also very important is to know how the injections were accomplished.  If they were done with very small amounts of local anesthetic only (no steroids, 0.5ml of anesthetic) then you have had a good result.  If the injections involved the use of steroids or larger amounts of local anesthetic then the cause of the pain becomes more uncertain.  If you have a second set of facet injections (again without steroids and small volumes of solution ((0.5ml or so of local anesthetic)) and you have an excellent result for days to a week then you are ready for the last step.  That would be to try to "permanently" turn off the same facet nerves (dorsal median nerves) with the use of radiofrequency energy or some other form of energy such as laser.