spondylolisthesis ( back pain)

[motogeek]

has anyone had spondylolisthesis? what can i do for it? its been a problem for about 4 years and it wasnt bad until last week. it would start out as a mild to dull burning sensation in my lower back on the left side that was brought on by standing too long or walking around or generally being on my feet too long. i could usually stand and work for a few hours and maybe all day being on my feet with no pain. when the pain set in, it would travel down my left cheek and my left leg would start to go numb. just last week, for no apparent reason, the pain sets in after being on my feet for anything over 5 minutes. im only 40 and work as a contractor so i need to work but i cant stand to be like this for the rest of my life. my doc told me that i need to do more work to strengthen my core and i am willing to do that but at this point i dont think it will help. the fix for this is a spinal fusion which means surgery and down time plus a long recovery. if anybody has any tips or help i would greatly appreciate it.

[nytrainer]

Get the surgery.

[DubstepMoto]

Hi Motogeek I have this its a Grade 1 slippage or 25% or less has slipped of the vert below or in my case my l5 has slipped of the sacrum. the Pars is fractured!

i have had this for 5 years you have to stretch the hamstrings a few times a day I ride track/mx anyway it acts up if i sit or stand in one place for an Hr I just keep moving and I deal with it.

One day I might get it fused but most surgeons wont touch it till its a grade 2 or you are so jacked from it you cant walk or nerves are on fire/numbness. Fusion can go either way in my case i would need two levels done and feel I can get a couple more years out of my back before I go there.

Stretch and strengthen if you can.... Good luck

[jfgjr]

I am recovering from a single level lumbar fusion right now. I am at 3 months post op. If you go the surgery route be patient with your recovery and don't get discouraged. I had a real hard time dealing with the down time mentally. It was hard to fill the my days seeing I trained alot and rode quite a bit too (not to mention work). I was really starting to think I was going to end up seriously disabled until I got quite a bit better last week. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but it gets a little better then plateaus out. I thought because of my relatively high level of fitness I would be healed by now, but there is no way to predict how fast you will recover even if you do all of the right things. I personally did PT, steroid injections, I worked with a trainer for years and we focused on alot of core work. I had no spare tire, I felt really good when I worked out it. It was when I was sitting and driving + every day life stuff that was driving me crazy. Check in with me in a few months and I can give you a better idea whether or not my surgery was worth it or not. Good luck on getting this resolved!

[xplant]

I discuss back pain and alternatives for a living. Please take the time to listen to the folks that tell you to "watch and wait". So many times people want surgery and the cure is worse that the problem. I recommend that people deal with pain and find ways to manage that without surgery. If they lose motor function - we go to surgery. I just see so much lifelong misery in people that wanted surgery - and got it. You have to be careful what you ask for. Remember, once we start cuting into flesh - it will never be anywhere near as good as it was when you were born. If we fuse spine levels - we just shift the problem upwatds and downwards. Good luck - just get all of the information you can and make surgery the very last thing on your list.

[moparfan]

I'll give my feedback just because I've been through it. There's certainly a valid point that surgery should be a last resort, and my last resort was ten years of nerve pain and finally not being able to stand for more than five minutes without my left leg feeling like it was on fire. I had L5-S1 fusion in February of this year. They went in from the front, which is a quicker recovery time and it's less traumatic since they don't cut muscle.

I woke up in recovery and instantly knew the nerve pain was gone, and it felt like a life-changing event. I was standing the next day, walking later that day, and discharged two full days after surgery. I went back to work after two weeks (office type stuff and light physical work) and wore the brace for three months.

I was told 6 months to a year to fully heal, and decided I'd stay off the bike for 9 months. I got really busy at work and didn't do all the physical therapy I should have, which is a mistake. Mentally I was dying to ride again, so I started "easy" rides about two weeks ago. I justified it by telling myself I won't start racing again until the end of the year, and I just ride for mental well being, not trying to do hot laps. Probably another mistake, but that's my choice. For me, the ability and skill comes right back, but you'll notice the fitness drops off!

My nerve pain is completely gone, but I'm not exactly pain free. I can bend forward ok, but if I spend any time that way it's like I get stuck there, and it's a long, painful stretch to straighten up again. That condition may very well be my own fault for not doing the physical therapy, but I thought I'd share anyway.

After surgery I felt like my life was changed and wondered why I waited so long. Eight months later I'm still glad I did it, and I feel fine on the bike. My advice would be to pull the trigger when you've had enough, and do everything you're supposed to do. Good luck to you!

[orlowskij]

Bumping an old thread. Background info: I'm 30 now, first started experiencing back pain about 15 years ago. I was diagnosed about 8 years ago with a grade 4 (~75% slip) spondylolisthesis at my L5-S1. Symptoms are both back pain and pain down the back of my legs, more pronounced in my left leg. The doctors that I've seen have said that surgery was probably inevitable, but the decision would be driven by either progression of the slip or an increase in my symptoms. I've gotten a couple MRIs/X-rays since that have shown that the slip is generally stable.

Starting last fall, symptoms have changed slightly with more numbness and a couple instances of one leg giving out. The pain has increased as well. At this point, I'm thinking that surgery is going to be recommended. I have a visit with my specialist on Thursday to discuss my last MRI and next steps. I'm up for surgery now if there is a chance that it reduces the pain. Currently on ibuprofen and tramadol as required, unfortunately it's progressed from needing it once a week to daily.

Any other spondylolisthesis experiences?

[Pipester]

L5/S1 grade 2. Herniation and Arthritis. It’s working it’s evil in conjunction with a Labrum tear in my left hip. I’ve learned to live with it. Flare ups come and go. Lame everyday things kick my ass like vacuuming, washing dishes or standing in my workshop for a while. To be honest I’ve found the best cure for this is to get back to the gym and get aggressive. I’ve tried physio, foam rolling and all of that. It was all bollocks in my opinion. I gave it an honest effort. It just didn’t suit my personality. Powerlifting and boxing had always been part of me. I went back to my roots albeit with a more aware mind of my back. I’m not deadlifting again yet, I’m still in the process of strengthening everything around the area. When it comes time to DL it will be very slow and very careful. I guess my point is, for me I went to back to what I enjoyed. The gym shouldn’t be a chore. It was when I had all these space aged websites and papers to follow from specialists, I gave it an honest effort and hated every minute. I went back to what I love and have never felt better. 

Train hard, train smart. Get strong and show your back you are in charge not the other way around. 

Good luck dudes. 

[Coach Robb]

Motogeek - this may sound crazy, but grab a foam roller and see if you can get the muscular system around your spine to release and quiet down.  I had a client that was diagnosed with Sciatica and told he need surgery.  With foam rolling and trigger point therapy, we were able to relieve the muscle tightness in the deep lateral rotaters of the hips and the Sciatica pain went away.  Worth a shot at this point.

-Coach Robb