Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Retrolisthesis
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
Retrolisthesis
by djam, May 20, 2005 12:00AM
I was diagnosed with 3mm Retrolisthesis on L4,L5 and L5,S1. I also have severe disc narrowing of those levels,DDD and bulges that are up to 4mm. I have moderate to severe pain 24/7, along with spasm and stiffness. I have numbness of left thigh,sometimes my whole left leg hurts along with the heel of my left foot. Three doctors have recommended Spinal Fusion with discectormy as my symptoms have increased and I have been suffering for almost three years. My question in re: Retrolisthesis is that researching I have learned that I should contemplate surgery if a Vertebral slip is a grade 2 and above, and I only have 3mm of Retrolisthesis. In the same token I have read that ANY Retrolisthesis, if symptoms severe,should be considered for surgery since it causes a more severe spinal instability, is this correct? If it were Spondolisthesis the grade would have to be a 2+ for surgery to be considered. Is a 3mm Retrolisthesis a grade 1?
Another questions: Along with my low-back problems I have severe mid-back pain(it's almost a burning sensation,along with spasm and at times like an electrical shock in certain movements)and I also have upper-back left side pressure,numbness,pain. I have been diagnosed with Radiculapathy in that area. The pressure I feel around the upper-left back area starts as soon as I wake up and it can be appear at any time, or when I lift something (lite),turn my neck, walking, etc. in other words at any time. Sometimes the pressure, numbness is so severe it spreads to the front, chest area(only left side).Pain on left side of arm tingling of last two fingers.
Another questions: Along with my low-back problems I have severe mid-back pain(it's almost a burning sensation,along with spasm and at times like an electrical shock in certain movements)and I also have upper-back left side pressure,numbness,pain. I have been diagnosed with Radiculapathy in that area. The pressure I feel around the upper-left back area starts as soon as I wake up and it can be appear at any time, or when I lift something (lite),turn my neck, walking, etc. in other words at any time. Sometimes the pressure, numbness is so severe it spreads to the front, chest area(only left side).Pain on left side of arm tingling of last two fingers.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW, May 22, 2005 12:00AM
Spondolisthesis is the same as retrolisthesis - the retro just describes the direction of the vertebral body displacement (retro=backwards)
The grading is based on the percentage of the vertebral body diameter displaced - therefore I cannot calculate what grage you are without seeing your scan and with just the 3mm measurement - porbably you are a grade 1 or 2 (less than 50% displaced)
It does tend to cause more instability than the more common anterolisthesis
I cannot tell you which way to go for surgery without knowing your case and scans better, unfortunately - there must more reason to pursue surgery than there are risks, and surgery does not gaurantee success or freedom from pain. You need to disucss this with your doctors.
I'm not sure what information you need for the second part - you do not ask a question
Good luck
The grading is based on the percentage of the vertebral body diameter displaced - therefore I cannot calculate what grage you are without seeing your scan and with just the 3mm measurement - porbably you are a grade 1 or 2 (less than 50% displaced)
It does tend to cause more instability than the more common anterolisthesis
I cannot tell you which way to go for surgery without knowing your case and scans better, unfortunately - there must more reason to pursue surgery than there are risks, and surgery does not gaurantee success or freedom from pain. You need to disucss this with your doctors.
I'm not sure what information you need for the second part - you do not ask a question
Good luck
Goodluck
I understand completely. Beleive me, what ultimately drove me to surgery was the chronic pain, I learned to live with burning,numbness, and so on. But ultimately my body looked like a twisted pretzel, and that happened unconsciencely.Different muscles tried to compenate for the ones I wasn't using, and so on. I was just 25 years old 5ft 6 inches and 115 pound. Good health and no injuries at all. One day I just started having back pain and it got worse and worse. Some doctors said it was hereditary some said it was a long car drive which agrivated the discs. I had seen about 5 orthos in total. If you are in so much pain that you cannot stand it anymore, surgery is a very feasable option. But just as long as you understand the risks, and so forth. Surgery is not a guarentee that your problem will never come back. As I sit here writing this, I am wearing a back brace. This is my third day back at the office, after a 5 week absence. 2 weeks of that were spent in the hospital in sheer agaony. But enough swelling has gone down, and I do physio twice a week and I take meds, and i do my exercises, and somehow I have to live my life. Which of all the doctors that you have seen do you trust? In your heart, you must at least beleive one of them?
Good luck to you.
March 20 Alternating pain in groin area seem to be positional when driving—continued for next couple weeks alternating from side to side—one day left next day right side
March 30 Saw GP for annual check up—did regular checkup and drew blood
April 1 Whent back to GP, (complained of pain under last lower rib) -- drew blood for CBC, rheumatoid factor, lyme ---told him also felt tingling sensations more on left side. Left little finger