Spondylolisthesis

Hello zebbiedog

I'm so sorry to hear all that your daughter has been going through and at such a young age.

I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis some 20 years ago, also at L5/S1. I also had a Spina Bifida at birth.

When I was diagnosed at 18 years old I was offered then or to wait until i was in my 40's when I , 

I have seen  an orthopaedic surgeon and I am due to see a spinal surgeon next week to see what my options are now as I am on Butran Patches and not able to walk far at all. I am under pain clinic, used Tens Machine and also considering the spinal injections at the moment

I hope someone comes along with more experience of a younger person with this condition to help you. Good luck to you and your daughter I hope she can get some quality back as there always hope

Hello zebbiedog

I am new to the site and just been reading about your daughter and all the replies sent.  I am very sorry to hear that your daughter has already suffered so much, and that she has now been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis.  I was diagnosed with the condition 18 years ago, after having a lot of physiotherapy for general back pain.  The physio didn't help and in fact aggravated my back.  I had an MRI scan and was diagnosed with gross spondylolisthesis with a grade 4 slip of L5/S1,  I was told it wasn't "mickey mouse surgery", and frightened about the thoughts of having surgery and having a new baby with special needs I decided not to go ahead with it. I suffered terrible pain, but still refused surgery.  Nine years later I had to give in, I had significant weakness in my left leg and there was a fear I would have a foot drop and end up in a wheelchair.  I had a decompression and spinal fusion.  I felt pretty bad after the op for several weeks, but people kept saying to me I looked a lot straighter and was walking much better.  After physio and doing a lot of core exercises I felt really good, and wish I hadn't put the op on hold for so long.  Unfortunately the last few years I have suffered with my back again, and I am now awaiting fusion and decompression of the level above.  So my advice would be don't rule out surgery, although I can fully understand that you feel that she has already been through so much surgery.  I regret not having it done sooner, as the pain restricted me from having  a better quality of life; and I also became so dependent on  painkillers and sleeping tablets, and the side effects aren't pleasant either.  I wish your daughter all the very best,

Hi Zebbiedog

So sorry to hear about your daughter! I'm 23 years old and was diagnosed late last year with Spondylolisthesis in my L5/S1 area. It took them 7 months of me suffering agonising pain to finally get to this diagnosis! As because I am so young, Dr's thought it was just "muscle problems". Even though I would go into my GP countless times and tell them my legs were getting numb. My spondylolisthesis is ungraded as it's not a massive worry. I am in the process of physio, I'm having acupuncture once a week which sort of helps but then causes lots of pain, I am on 20 tablets a day (Paracetamol, Tramadol and Gabapentin) and hopefully I'm being sent to a spinal specialist in a few weeks!

Dr's are unaware if I was born with the defect or whether an accident I had a work last year caused it, but they are just saying I was born with it so they can then tell me there isn't much they can do (I swear Dr's are becoming useless!) Surgery has been mentioned but only if I get dramatically worse.

I probably haven't been of much help, just wanted to have my say as a young one going through this as I feel the Dr's haven't been as fussed with me because of my age.

Hope your daughter gets sorted!! X

Hi zebbiedog,

I truly feel sorry for your daughter going through so much pain at such a young age.

I am a 28 yr old male who has spondylolisthesis grade 2 L5/S1 and have a degenerated disc L4/L5. I believe I have always had this condition since a young age but I have only recently been diagnosed, the pain in the recent months made me go to the doctor.

Things that help me which potentially could help your daughter:

- Back heat pads -> I wear it across my lower back when I am in severe pain, they are quite uncomfortable but they certainly do alleviate the pain.

- Massages -> I am not sure how relevant this is to your daughter as is she is very young and tight muscles are not something children get (apologies if I am wrong) but up until I had my back pain, I used to play a lot of football and my legs were very tight, I also had severe pain in my hamstrings following strenuous exercise which I can no longer do but massages helped at the time.

- Constant moving -> For me, it is a lot more painful when I am sitting, when I move around, walking is about as much as I can do at the moment but this helps.

I will be starting physio soon and hope that this helps. With regards to a long term fix, I will undergo surgery at some point but will see how physio goes.

I can't imagine how hard it is for you to see your daughter going through such pain in her day to day life, I really hope you found a solution to help her. I have read many stories where people have successfully overcome spondylolisthesis and really hope your daughter will be the same.

All the best,

Ameen

hi im steve i also have spondy l5 s1 region ..im sorry ur daughter is in alot of pain we sall are its worse for a child i believe ...the only thing i can say is that i will send my prayers to her .

I was born with spondylolisthesis. I didn't know I had it until I was 55 yrs old. I was afraid to go to doctor when I started having pain about 15 yrs old. I have learned how to live with this condition until recently. In my younger days, I realized I couldn't lift anything heavy, move furniture around etc. if I did, I was on the heating pad all night but the next morning the pain would be gone. I also learned not to sit too long or stand too long.  Physical therapy Has helped a lot as I aged. It  strenghtens the  muscles around your spine. Excercise needs to be done on a daily basis for the rest your life. When I slack off on excercise, the pain is a lot worse. I don't know if everyone's situation is different with this defect. Even when I was young, I couldn't stand for very long. I did work my entire life at a desk job. I learned to get up every two hours and walk around. I also sat on one leg! It must of taken the pressure off my spine. I don't know if any of theses things might help your daughter. I never had injections or surgery. This option scares me so I just learned what I can do and can't do. 

So sorry to hear all your daughters ongoing problems,I'm a mum too and my daughter since the age of 14 has had heart problems and a rare condition called POTS,she basically collapses very frequently,I'm sure u feel the same when I say I wish I could take her illness and have it to give her a normal life.

Her spondylolyethesis grade3 I had been told should be operated on as if it continues to slip,which it will over time,I read her decreased sensation to left foot and her bowel bladder problems think she needs to be reviewed by a consultant asap .physio would be a no no because of her slippage.

please get expert review ASAP,even if it's going into a and e they would then get review by orthopaedics.

other option is seeing GP and asking whether cauda equina could be present,this would be where they have to operate sooner to save nerves etc

keep in touch

k r

ellen

I am new to the forums and I'm very confused after recent events in my life.

I am a 40yr old gent and before my car accident I lived a perfect healthy an very active work and social life.

I was involved in a very nasty accident (passenger) of a car that rolled over multiple times at over 115mph was told very lucky to be alive by paramedics.

Since my accident I have been diagnosed as having

Spondylolistheses grade 2 with bilateral exit foraminal stenosis L5/S1

I have been struggling with very aggressive an excruciating pain in my lower back and left leg, continued pins/needles all down my leg and numbness. I have had an epidural in my spine for pain relief which didn't work I am taking several different types of medication and I can still only walk a short few steps on crutches before my pain is too much. My confusion is I recently had a consultation at prh orthopaedic department during which we spoke about a spinal fusion and nerve decompression operation which I was explained was not a cure but would maybe help me.

Why I was there I requested if I could maybe use a wheelchair for getting out house more (I can't leave house at the moment due to my pain) and was told to see my gp about which I presumed tobe normal procedure.

Well I have received today a copy of the ditated notes and there is a paragraph init that reads as follows,

He (me) does not really come across as a candidate for a spinal fusion and decompression. The pain is related to accident and there are various medico-legal issues. At the moment he is requesting a wheelchair. There are a lot of yellow flags around at the moment.

I'm contacting the pain clinic and see if they can see him sooner. After treatment we may consider referral to Oswestry for spinal fusion.

I have already been seen by pain clinic and received the treatment and it was a fail I am now awaiting a follow up appointment with my consultant which I am going to confront him about the report I got. Hope I not confused anyone I'm just after help with my situation.

Thanks

I see that this post is from over a year ago, so not sure if this will be helpful, however in the case that it is:

I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis L5/S1 at age 13. I'm now 40. I cannot recall the grade, but if I had to guess, probably 2. I wore a destabilizing back brace for about 6 months and then had a spinal fusion. The fusion eliminated the pain for me for many years. The surgery was hard but I got through it. Afterward I was grateful for it as it eliminated my pain. I'm sure surgery is much better today than it was 26 years ago so if you end up taking this path I wanted to offer my experience to give you hope.

I carried three children with no problem. 

I made it through my teen years, 20's and 30's without giving much thought to my back! The experience taught me to take care of my health.

Best to you and your daughter!