Treatingspondylolisthesis

The way spondylolisthesis is treated will depend on your symptoms and howsevere they are.In most cases non-surgical treatments will be recommended first.

Non-surgical treatments

Initial treatments forspondylolisthesis may include:

• a short period of rest, avoiding activities such as bending, lifting, contact sports and athletics
• anti-inflammatory painkillers , such as ibuprofen , or stronger painkillers available on prescription can help reduce pain and inflammation
• physiotherapy simple stretching andstrengthening exercises may help increase the range of motion in your lower back and hamstrings
• if you have pain, numbness and tingling in your legs, corticosteroid injections around the compressed nerve and into the spinal canal may be recommended

These measures will only provide temporary symptom relief, but your symptoms may disappear completely with time.

Back braces sometimes used to be recommended for some people with spondylolisthesis. However, there are concerns that bracing may actually weaken the spine and fail to improve symptoms.

Surgery

Surgery may be recommended if non-surgical treatments are ineffective and your symptoms are severe, persistent, or suggest you have a compressed nerve in your spine.

The exact surgical procedure you need will depend on the type of spondylolisthesis you have.

It usually involves fusing the slipped vertebra to the neighbouring vertebrae using metal screws and rods, and a piece of your own bone taken from an areanearby. The screws and rods are usually left in place permanently.

In some cases the spinal disc being compressed between your vertebrae may also be removed. It will be replaced by a small "cage" containing a bone graft to hold your vertebrae apart.

The operation is performed under general anaesthetic , which means you'll beunconsciouswhile it's carried out.

Surgery is often effectiveat relieving many of the symptoms of spondylolisthesis, particularly pain and numbness in the legs.

However, it's a major operation that involves up to a week-long stay in hospital and a recovery period lasting months, where you have to limit your activities.

Spinal surgery for spondylolisthesis also carries a risk of potentially serious complications, including:

• infection at the site of the operation
• a blood clot developing in one of the veins in your legknown as deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• damage to the spinal nerves or spinal cord, resulting in continuing symptoms, numbness or weakness in the legs, or, in rare cases, some degree of paralysis or loss of bowel or bladder control

Because ofthe possibility of complications,make sure youdiscuss the operation in detail withyour doctor or surgeonbefore deciding to have surgery.

, a type of spinal surgery used to treat compressed nerves in the lower (lumbar) spine.