Grade 1 Spondylolisthesis

Candles_by_Lisa

Hi all hopefully someone will be on here who can help.

I have just been diagnosed with degenerative Grade 1 spondylolisthesis. I have been in terrible pain with my back and have been going to physio twice a week since October 2011 and the pain has only gotten worse.

I work full time and I have always been active going to the gym 3 times a week as my husband had a stroke last year we decided to join to keep up his therapy for his week arm and leg. Up until recently I used to go to dance classes so have always been active. This is driving me crazy with the pain. Does anybody know what this is? I have been searching on line and I keep getting phsio for it but as I am going twice a week already what is the next likely step.

Many many thanks in advance.

fluffnutter

We can't give medical advice on MSE, although we can of course sympathise. What does your physiotherapist say about your continuing pain? Have you been back to your GP?

Candles_by_Lisa

Thanks for that. Physio have pretty much said if the exercises don't work I will need to get stronger painkillers (which I really don't want to do as the ones I am on just now zonk me out as it is which makes it hard going at work) or surgery I don't want to go down those roots but this pain is terrible!. Back at the GP and all they are doing is supplying painkillers and leaving it in the hands of the physio.

Just feeling a bit down at the moment as it has only been in the past couple of weeks that the pain has become so bad that I can't do any of the activities I used to (walking is causing pain at the minute) and just wondered if anybody else had experienced this and if there was light at the end of the tunnel.

fluffnutter

Have you googled? Have you talked to your GP about surgery?

Candles_by_Lisa

Yep I've googled it and pretty much saying cures etc, are physio so I am really hoping that it will work but just worried as I have been going twice weekly since October as the next option is surgery. GP has pretty much said it is in the hands of physio and they will do referrals etc to whatever specialties the physio suggests. Just feeling a bit down in the dumps and just wondered if anybody else had suffered from this and managed the pain to get back to some sort of level of normal activity. To be honest that is what bothers me the most not being able to do the things that I could do only a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks for listening and really sorry to bend your ears.

Darlyd

Have not heard of this before. But I can sympathize with you. Back pain is just horrendous (slipped a disk) I'm Under a consultant who I will be seeing for a followup next week. On my last visit after my MRI he told me to not do any exercise any work and to chill out in a position that was comfortable for me. I did that and pain subsided greatly. Is this something that you could perhaps do? Have a rest for a week or so?

Pain killers I agree can knock you out but they do help and in my opinion are worth it of it helps the pain.

Hope you get some relief soon Hun. Really do feel for you x

fluffnutter

:cool:

Candles_by_Lisa wrote: »

Yep I've googled it and pretty much saying cures etc, are physio so I am really hoping that it will work but just worried as I have been going twice weekly since October as the next option is surgery. GP has pretty much said it is in the hands of physio and they will do referrals etc to whatever specialties the physio suggests. Just feeling a bit down in the dumps and just wondered if anybody else had suffered from this and managed the pain to get back to some sort of level of normal activity. To be honest that is what bothers me the most not being able to do the things that I could do only a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks for listening and really sorry to bend your ears.

Chronic pain is really debilitating as is not being able to do the things you'd like to do. It's not surprising you're feeling low. Our attitudes toward pain can have a big impact on how much pain we actually feel, and whilst you're waiting for a more permanent cure, how about seeing if your PCT offers a pain management clinic?

Are you taking pain killers regularly? The type you take is important as is how you take them. Pain is better managed prophylactically, i.e. taking a pain killer before you're in a lot of pain is better than waiting until the pain's really taken hold. This technique isn't necessarily the best approach for chronic pain because you'll be forever popping tablets but it's worth considering taking pain killers before you do anything active, even if you're not in pain at that moment.

I'm straying too close to advice here Talk to your GP.

Starb

My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed with this along with a stress fracture of the lower spine just over a year ago. It is basically when one of your vertebrae slips forward out of line with the rest of the vertebrae and can cause the pain you are experiencing . Grade 1 is the mildest form, and your aim/your gp's aim should be to stop the slippage of the vertebrae any further.

The NHS were useless and I ended up going private and it was the best thing I did. My daughter tried physio for 6 months which did see an improvement in the amount of pain she was experiencing, but it was still affecting her life quality. The next step in treatment was an L5 pars block injection into her lower spine to numb the pain. It was a simple procedure which took 10 minutes, and she was running around the same evening.

This is not a permanent solution, but for the most part she is pain free. The final step when/if the injections combined with physio stop working is an operation. This is not a route I want to go down, so can't stress to her how important it is to build up her strength through daily physio exercises designed to build up her pelvic strength as a good base, and to be aware of her posture and not slouch.

The long term prognosis given to my daughter is there is no cure, but it can be managed through physio/injections/operation.

Sooz00

I can only tell you about my own experience as I was diagnosed with this and spondylolysis about 8 years ago now when I was in my mid-20s. I had an accident and the consultant said that it accelerated the condition by 15-20 years.

Despite the physio and low impact exercise, I have relied on painkillers (prescription co-codamol and tramadol) as I needed to work without being in pain. I was told anti-inflammatories help but I'm allergic to those! Now though, having lived with it for some time, I generally know my limitations. Acknowledging those, whilst irritating to me, has helped enormously and enabled me to reduce the meds. I still end up in A&E with a locked up back every so often (probably every other year) having done something I didn't realise would set it off. It's then a case of more physio which does help a bit, although I don't find it makes a vast difference to just exercising the muscles at home. I do find a TENS machine useful too.

The other treatments I was offered were facet joint injections (which I tried in an attempt to stop the pills) and acupuncture (which didn't do a huge amount for me but other people swear by it). The only other option for me was surgical spinal fusion and my consultant was very honest with me. He said it may well solve all of the problems BUT for some people, it is either the same or becomes worse. He advised that whilst I was able to walk and live a pretty normal life (albeit rattling from the pills), that he would advise to leave well alone as long as possible. So that's what I did. Yes, it's degenerative but looking after your back, knowing your limitations and compensating by strengthening muscles can make the world of difference.

I would go back to your GP and go through your options whether that be for chronic pain clinic, rheumatology or orthopaedics. Sad to say, that whilst everything settles and you get used to your limitations, you may have to alter things in your life, such as swap high impact exercise for low impact, avoid manual handling and twisting your body etc.

My main worry now is how I will cope with young children as the doctors said that the bending/lifting/twisting etc. will take it's toll on my back. I'm hoping it's just a case on working out what my new limitations will be but time will tell I suppose.

Tiddlywinks

Who gave you the diagnosis? Hopefully a consultant?

It is not up to the physio to recommend surgery - they are there to help investigate whether increased movement from strengthening / lengthening or whatever excercises can actually help. Their treatment plan should be informed by the right test results such as xray, CT or MRI and an expert opinion.

I would make sure you have been seen by the right man (or woman) for the job - a specialist rather than a generalist.

I know from bitter (and painful) experience that physios can act on a GP's diagnosis and do more harm that good because the GP identified the wrong condition to start with... and that led to 9 months of agony in physio rectified by surgery and now an 18 month recovery plan.

Just make sure your have the right people helping you make your choices.

Maudella

I have pm'd you