The severity and the type of symptoms associated with spondylolisthesis depend on the grade of the condition. Grades range from low to high (1 to 5), with each grade representing the percentage of vertebrae slippage. For example, Grade 1 indicates slippage of less than 25 percent, while Grade 5 represents 100 percent slippage—where the top vertebra completely falls off the supporting bone below it.
Common complaints range from local pain to radiating pain. You may experience leg pain or pain in the buttock, or you may feel a more generalized numbness, tingling, or weakness. It all depends on the amount of contact with the nerves.
An inability to control urine or stool, or to initiate a urine stream, could indicate that the slippage may be pushing on the spinal cord itself. This would be considered a medical emergency, so anyone with these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Cortisone injections straight into the joint, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), hot packs, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and therapeutic exercises are commonly employed.
If deemed necessary, a surgical procedure can eliminate any contact a vertebra has with a nerve and stabilize the vertebrae to prevent further slippage.
Once the slippage has happened or you have been diagnosed with a progressive form of this condition, it is recommended that you seek professional help from a qualified expert in spondylolisthesis who can initiate the most comprehensive and conservative approach possible.
The principles of Muscle Balance Therapy™ can help you strategically assess your individual muscle imbalances and develop a very targeted corrective program to meet your specific needs.
The two most common reasons for lower back nerve pair is from a pinched nerve or herniated disc caused by muscle imbalances, which are the result of "postural dysfunctions." These dysfunctions put abnormal pressure on the disc that will cause increased wear and tear over time. Eventually, the weak spot will give way and make contact with the nerve, bringing you pain.
If your pinched nerve is not due to a disc-related problem, understand that muscle imbalances can change the position and the pull of muscles. When this happens, these muscles - as well as other structures - can put abnormal pressure on the nerve (or pinching it) and cause pain.
It is important to understand that the neither the pinching nor the increased pressure on a nerve happen overnight. You may be come symptomatic very quickly, but it takes a long time before conditions are right for the nerve to be put under enough pressure to cause pain.