What is Spondylolisthesis?

Spondylolisthesis symptoms arise when a spinal nerve, nerve root, or the spinal cord is compressed as a result of vertebral slippage. The condition commonly occurs as a result of trauma to the spine and is frequently seen in gymnasts, hockey players, football players, and other athletes. Though less common, spondylolisthesis can also occur as a result of the natural aging process and the gradual deterioration of certain spinal components, which can lead to a loss of spinal stability.

Symptoms – Where and Why?

The nerves that branch from the spinal cord are tasked with relaying messages from the brain to the rest of the body. When a nerve is compressed by a misaligned vertebra, pain and discomfort can travel along the length of the nerve, causing symptoms to appear in seemingly unrelated areas of the body. Spondylolisthesis most commonly occurs in the lumbar spine (or lower back), from which nerves branch and travel throughout the lower body. Depending on which nerve is affected, the patient could experience symptoms in the lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, and/or feet, and symptoms can include pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness.

How to Relieve Spondylolisthesis Symptoms

The exact course of treatment for spondylolisthesis will vary from patient to patient and rely heavily on the degree to which the affected vertebra has slipped over the one beneath it. In the case of mild to moderate slippage, treatment will typically begin with a regimen of conservative, nonsurgical therapies.

Over-the-counter, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as ibuprofen and naproxen – are among the most commonly used treatments for spondylolisthesis. These medications keep the body’s COX-1 and/or COX-2 enzymes from producing prostaglandins, the chemicals that play a role in the body’s inflammatory response. Because inflammation can greatly contribute to a patient’s neural compression, NSAIDs can be quite effective at abating pain and discomfort. In the event that over-the-counter medication proves ineffective, a patient may be prescribed a narcotic pain reliever and/or a muscle relaxant.

Physical therapy (PT) can also prove beneficial for many patients who are experiencing the symptoms of spondylolisthesis. Though many people think of PT as an exercise regimen to increase strength and flexibility, it can actually include many different types of therapies, including thermotherapy and cryotherapy. More commonly referred to as heat therapy, thermotherapy involves the application of a heating pad or other heat source to a painful or tense part of the body. In the case of spondylolisthesis, a physical therapist may advise his or her patient to apply heat to the lower back in an effort to increase oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood flow to the area. Heat can also help relieve muscle tension which could very well be compounding the patient’s neural compression. Ice, on the other hand, reduces inflammation and helps numb away pain. Depending on the patient’s specific symptoms and various other factors, a physical therapist may instruct a patient to alternate between applying heat and ice, or to use one of the two exclusively.

Surgery for Spondylolisthesis

A conservative treatment regimen offers most patients the level of relief they require from the symptoms of mild to moderate spondylolisthesis. In the event that a patient’s symptoms fail to subside after several weeks or months, his or her physician or spine specialist may recommend surgery. Patients should be advised to thoroughly research all of their surgical options before consenting to any operation. In some cases, patients may be candidates for minimally invasive spinal procedures that result in shorter and oftentimes less arduous rehabilitations that open spine surgeries. Patients may also want to receive a second – or even third – opinion to make sure surgery is warranted and that spondylolisthesis is, in fact, the correct diagnosis.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of spondylolisthesis symptoms and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/spondylolisthesis/spondylolisthesis_symptoms/

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for the treatment of spondylolisthesis symptoms and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: spondylolisthesis symptoms