Spondylolysis is a situation in which a small fracture of a vertebra occurs in the spine, which can be asymptomatic or result in spondylolisthesis, that is, when the vertebra ” slides back, deforming the spine, which can press a nerve and cause symptoms such as back pain and difficulty.
This situation is not exactly the same as a herniated disk, since in the hernia only the hernia is affected, becoming compressed, in these cases one (or more) vertebrae of the spine ‘slip backwards’, due to a fracture of the spinal pedicle and soon after the intervertebral disc also accompanies this movement, reaching backwards, causing back pain and tingling sensation , however, in some cases it is possible to have spondylolisthesis with herniated disc at the same time.
- Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are more common in the cervical and lumbar regions.
- But can also affect the thoracic spine.
- A definitive cure can be achieved with surgery that repositions the spine to its original location.
- But drug treatments and physical therapy may be enough to relieve pain.
Spondylolysis is the initial stage of spinal cord injury and therefore may not cause symptoms, as it is accidentally discovered during an X-ray exam or back scan, for example.
When spondylolisthesis is formed, the situation worsens and symptoms such as:
Diagnosis of spondylolisthesis is performed by an MRI showing the exact position of the intervertebral disc.Diagnosis is usually made after age 48, with women being most affected.
The most common causes of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are
Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are more common in the lower back and cervical regions, causing pain in the back or neck, respectively.Spondylolisthesis can be disabling when severe and treatments do not provide the expected relief of pain, in which case the person may have to withdraw.
Treatment of spondyllysis or spondylolisthesis varies depending on the intensity of symptoms and the degree of displacement of the vertebra, which can vary from 1 to 4, and may be performed with anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants or analgesics, but acupuncture and physiotherapy should also be performed, and when none of these options is sufficient to control pain , surgery is indicated.The use of a vest was used in the past, but doctors no longer recommend it.
In case of spondylolysis it may be recommended to take acetaminophen, which is effective in pain management; in the case of spondylolisthesis, when the difference is only grade 1 or 2 and therefore treatment is done only with:
Surgery, to strengthen the vertebra or to decompress the nerve, is performed only in grade 3 or 4 cases, where it is not possible to control symptoms with medication and physiotherapy, for example.
Physical therapy sessions for spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis help supplement medication treatment, allowing you to relieve pain more quickly and reduce the need for higher doses.
In physiotherapy sessions exercises are performed that increase the stability of the spine and increase the strength of the abdominal musculature, decreasing the movement of the vertebrae, facilitating the reduction of inflammation and therefore relieving pain.
Electronic equipment for pain relief, manual therapy techniques, lumbar stabilization exercises, abdominal strengthening, tibial hamstrings stretching in the back of the legs may be used, and RPG exercises, Clinical Pilates and Hydrotherapy may be recommended, for example.