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spondylolisthesis grade 1 l5 s1 please help absolutely terrified

Posted , 14 users are following.

carla28825
carla28825

Hello,

This is my first post so do forgive me if I am talking out of term in any way.

I am 40 and have grade 1 l5 s1 spondylolisthesis. When I read forums, all I see is people having to be on painkillers, fusion surgeries that don't work, people who can not work, have children (pregnancy) and so on because of this condition. I am so terrified I will end up in a wheelchair or without a social life. There is so little information about the condition online. Please, please, can someone give me some hope that you can live with this condition, perhaps by doing exercises, yoga, pilates etc? Please tell me I can avoid surgery, have a pregnancy to term without complications from spondy. I feel so alone. I hope all of you are having a good day.

 

2 likes, 57 replies

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  • ellen82139
    ellen82139 carla28825

    Posted

    Hi this is all new to me ,have nursed for 39 years and now suddenly off work over 2 months grade 1 spondolyethesis, terrified as I don't think can return to the work area was in as too heavy nursing, injections next week, all this happened from fall in work and I'm gutted
  • Sally4Edgar
    Sally4Edgar carla28825

    Posted

    Hi, I'm 57 and was diagnosed back in 2001 with a grade 2 spondylolisthesis of L5. I had bouts of major back pain when I was in my teens and 20s but it was never properly diagnosed - even osteopaths didn't pick it up. It was only a visit to my GP for abdominal pains that he noticed it just by looking at my back! He sent me for x-ray which confirmed it. He told me the treatment would be fusion and asked if I wanted to be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon which scared me to death!  I said I would just try to get on with life as my back wasn't bothering me too much at that time.  Luckily it has been relatively stable for the last 30 years with just occasional bouts of discomfort if I've been doing a lot of bending, but I knew that getting older things weren't necessarily going to stay that way.  Visits to the osteopath have generally helped when I have had discomfort. I've been doing swimming and Pilates since the start of this year but have had to stop 6 weeks ago due to a bad wrist fracture. I don't know whether this has had a bearing on my back as it has suddenly worsened since a fortnight ago, and I'm going to see my GP on Friday this week to ask for an MRI. I'm scared that surgery may be looming unless there are alternatives I can be offered. Also having a DEXA scan booked next week to find out if I have a bone density problem because I fell and broke my wrist. Oh joy!

    A friend's husband is in his 70s and had fusion surgery for spondylolisthesis last year with plates inserted to stabilise the area. He seems to have recovered quite well and is able to live a normal life for a 70 +'year old. 

    This is is all scary stuff for me so it's good to read about other people's experiences, concerns and especially some positive outcomes following treatment. 

     

  • carla28825
    carla28825

    Posted

    Good morning everybody smile I must appologise for not replying for so long but I have had a few complicated months, not related to spondylolisthesis but on a personal level. I do thank everyone so much for taking the time to help me and I want in some way, to repay your kindness by telling you what I found out in these 10 months, which might not be a lot but still here it goes smile apparently, most people suffer with back pain for a lack of mainly vitamine D3, amongst others, but from what I have red in books, medical literature etc, what we eat and the time most of us spend in the sunshine is not enough to give you the required dosage of vitamine d3 I am not in any way telling anyone what to do, it would not be my place to do so, but if you can check your vitamine level, (test), you might be lacking in vitamine d3 which can give you weaker bones, muscle spasms etc. In my case, because I had muscle spasms, acupuncture (intra muscular dry needle) I think the physiotherapist called it like that, worked a treat. The needle is put into the muscle itself, and finally, exercise. However, I still experience stiffness if I walk for more than two hours, which is awful, because I adore walking. Finally, there is a book, written by a neurologist and back surgeon, who himself suffers with spondylolisthesis. I feel one of his exercises would be kind of not okay for me, kettlebells, but that will be a question to ask my physiotherapist. The book is called, the end of back pain, by Patrick Roth.  I really really hope I have been of some help to everyone smile I would love to know how you are all doing, especially those of you who had fusion surgery. Once again, I do appologise for delaying so much in replying to everyone.   
  • amber75491
    amber75491 carla28825

    Posted

    Hi carla! I have the same exact condition you have, L5 S1 grade 1 spondylolisthesis. When I was 14 I was diagnosed with spondylosis from years of gymnastics. I am now 20 years old and just found out the my condition has progressed, which I hear is normal for those diagnosed with spondylosis while they are still growing, especially females. Anyways, I just wanted to share my personal experience with you. I have never experienced any pain from my condition other than when I first discovered it and was still participating in gymnastics. I lead a very normal life, I try to stay away from particularly heavy lifting, twisting, and hyperextension of my spine. I also sleep with a pillow between my legs on my side or beneath my knees on my back. My husband and I are planning our first child this July, and my doctor has told me this is fine and shouldnt cause any further slippage or any pain aside from typical back pain associated with pregnancy. Being so young, I was worried too that I wouldnt be able to keep up with my husband or maintain a normal active life, but I wanted to let you know from my experience that you absolutely can. As long as you take care of yourself and listen to your body, it is very unlikely that you will suffer any additional slippage. If your doctor only provided you with two options, I would totally seek a second opinion. My doctor told me that it is very unlikely that I will need fusion surgery at any point in my life. Keep your head up, everything will be be just fine. smile xoxo

    • Riskay82
      Riskay82 amber75491

      Posted

      Hi Amber,  I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions as I have a competitive cheerleader that has been dealing with pars fractures.  I was wonder if you went back to gymnastics after your diagnosis?  My daugther is determined to keep cheering and has been pain free for 9.5 weeks now and her newest ortho and pt say she will be fine.  I guess I am just scared and not confident in this and was wondering how it worked out for you
    • amber75491
      amber75491 Riskay82

      Posted

      Hey! First of all I'm sorry to hear that she is dealing with that at such a young age, I can definitely relate. Honestly, after I discovered spondylolysis (bilateral pars fracture to L5 and S1) I ended gymnastics, cheer and dance, simply because hyperextension of the spine and high impact sports can worsen the condition or cause it to progress to spondylolisthesis. However, I have remained physically active since and still partake in weightlifting and jogging, light yoga and pilates. It is a difficult thing to sacrifice at an early age, and it will be the last thing she wants to here, but we only have one spine. In the long haul participating in a sport will not be worth potential neurological problems (not saying that would happen, just stressing the importance of taking care of oneself). It was difficult for me to give up cheerleading but I'm now 21 and I never experience any back pain. It's also important to remember that girls who have our condition from such early ages (13 in her case, 14 in mine) are more prone to progression from spondylolysis to spondylolisthesis just because at that age our bodies and bone structures are still changing. If she does plan to continue cheering, I suggest she starts physical therapy to make sure certain muscles that support the spine are as strong as possible. I think she should be just fine as long as she takes care of herself, lifts with proper form, and is careful not to hyperextend her spine. I went in for x-rays several days ago and found out that my fracture is actually below a grade 1, which means my spondylolysis may not have even progressed to spondylolisthesis! So while it is something you want to take care of, it is not something that will prevent you from leading an active lifestyle. smile -amber

    • Riskay82
      Riskay82 amber75491

      Posted

      Thanks so much for your response.  I know at this time she is just not ready to quit cheer sad  She is in pt currently with a great lady that works with gymnasts.  Both her and our newest doctor thinks she will be just fine to continue as long as she addresses her core issues.  According to this newest doctor (he is our third)  she has no fracture at all even on her past MRI he is reporting it as small amounts of edema and hypertrophic changes with a mild case of spina bifida occulta.  He says there is no fracture line just a thickening of bone.  His opinion differs greatly with the other doctor we had seen, although that doctor said she had minor micro fracturing and could return to sport after healing.  Its just all so confusing I don't know what to think anymore.

  • james32467
    james32467 carla28825

    Posted

    Dont make the mistake that I did when I was 45 yrs old and didn't stabilize the L5S1 spondylolisthesis...now at 73 it a Grade 3!!!! back then only a grade 1 ..

    now its a.much more serious operation. Get it stabilized NOW

    jMeyer Sugarland Tx

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