An mri will rule out any root nerve compression or foraminal stenosis. Id recommend a standing mri as those are more accurate to show any real issues going on within!!! Ur very welcome. My oldest son was diagnosed with isthmic spondylolisthesis 2 years ago at the age of 18 thru my chiropractor. His is at the same level but is not symptommatic thank the heavens!!! Havnt had my other two kids exrayed as of yet
Okay, thank you. It's good to get advice from someone else who's been through it. I plan on calling the doctor on Monday to set up an appointment.
Pars defects I believe, can be heriditary. We have a weakened disposition in our spines in the areas that later turn can turn into pars defects. Id recomment non-invasive and conservative methods first. Sometimes the grade of a person's spondylolisthesis CAN change. Id use surgery only as an absolute last resort to decompress severely compressed nerve roots.
Thank you, squirtatious. I had no idea that pars defects begins in childhood. So are pars defects caused by an injury or just made worse by injury? I do remember slipping on some concrete steps when I was about 12 or 13 years old and basically bouncing off several of them with my tailbone. I was in quite a bit of pain for what seemed like weeks. I never did go see a doctor. Can grade II get worse and turn to grade III? I'm not too excited about doing surgery and I'm hoping there are some less invasive treatments I can do to help keep the pain and weakness at bay. I wonder if certain back exercises would help, or possibly theraputic massage. So far I've been self medicating with ibuprofen, icy hot and a heating pad. It helps to some degree, but I don't want to take too much ibuprofen for fear of hurting my liver or kidneys.
I'm going to take a chance here ande assume u have isthmic spondylolisthesis. Its a common one that pplo who have spondylolisthesis have. Pars defects begin in childhood btwn the ages of 5-13. Its enhanced by certain activities like gymnastics and football. By the time one hits adolescence stage, it can turn into pars fractures on either side of the vertabrae. In adulthood, it can turn into spondylolisthesis where the upper lever is shifting on the bottom vertabrae. About 7% of the populoation experiences this. I have a grade 2-3 isthmic spondylolisthesis that became symptommatic in my early 30's (I am 37). March 21st of 2009, I began to experience out of the blue leg weakness to where I could not control the muscles of my legs and walked like someone with a bad case of cerebral palsy. The next day, the calf charley horses began. 3 days later, the intense varying levels of different pain and burning and electrical sensations ande leg weakness became my daily companion for 11 months. I had fusion surgery with instrumentation at l5/s1 as my DDD at this level and spondylolisthesis caused severe bilateral foraminal stenosis which resulted in significant bilateral root nerve compression. I understand ur situation. I tried everything non-invasive first. My chiro advised me to seek a neurosurgeon when he saw my mri results in march of 2009. I wish u the utmost best!!!! I'm here if u ever need to talk. *hugs*