I had a grade 1 spondylolisthesis at L4-5 and I had a fusion to address the problem almost two years ago. I never was aware that I had any instability and my primary problem was horrendous sciatic-type pain, numbness in both feet, and loss of ankle reflex in right leg. I've never had any back pain.

My PT who worked in a specialized clinic that mainly dealt with scoliosis patients, suggested I get a sacro-belt, which is the same as what you are referring to, I believe. I found it useful when I was doing more than my usual amount of walking. I don't think it is a problem to wear it for part of the day.

Did you not have the retrolisthesis at the beginning when you first found out you had mild protrusions?

If you don't have any major nerve compression, I would think you could wait to have surgery until you can't stand the pain any longer...unless there is too much instability.

I guess I should add that as far as I know, there really isn't any alternate treatment for a listhesis....you either live with it or have surgery....Two years ago, the only possibility for me surgically was an instrumented fusion. Perhaps things have changed, but if so, I am not aware of it.

You should have a flexion X-ray if you haven't done so yet.

thanks for the response gwennie. the first time the mild protrusions were detected in an mri the slippage of the vertebra was very little and it wasn't noticed by anyone.

my doctor told me that the best thing to do is to build up my core back muscles so that i don't put too much pressure on the vertebra and worsen the retrolisthesis.

it seems that it is difficult to say whether my pain in the back and legs is because of the disc protrusions or the retrolisthesis or both. I suppose that unlike protruding discs, one cannot expect the vertebra to go back.

currently i wear my lumbar belt about 2 hours a day and it makes me feel really comfortable, while at most other times my discomfort ranges from very mild to quite a bit of pain. i don't have any instability as far as i can tell.

i suppose i shuold watch and if the difficulties continue perhaps surgery can be considered. i am in the UK for till July-august next year and i want to get any major treatment only when i am back home in india. i go there this christmas for a couple of weeks and will meet the doc to discuss all this.

what is the use of a flexion x-ray?

Extension X-ray is a regular X-ray procedure, but they put you in a position where you are standing with your back arching back...and then, flexion X-ray is a pose where you are bending forward at the waist. This is the best way to see if there is slippage of one vertebrae over another one.

Yes you are right, all you can do is try to keep a slippage from becoming worse...and I'm not sure how much we can actually do to influence that! Sometimes a slippage does not cause any pain, and people don't even know they have the problem. It is only when a nerve is being compressed or there is noticeable instability that it becomes an issue.

If I were you, I would do whatever you can to strengthen the soft tissue and avoid surgery for as long as you can. I was getting a transforaminal injection recently. The nurse in the procedure room, who had recently switched jobs from a hospital emergency room, innocently asked me if people ever had just ONE back surgery. She hadn't met any patients that fit that category. I assured her there must be some out there, but I did not know any personally!!

Have a safe trip home and a happy holiday.

Gwennie

I had terrible low back pain for years and I did have a SI belt that a chiropracter had me wear for some time. I was told by some that I shouldn't wear it because it may weaken certain muscle.... It did relieve a lot of pain but it was hard to wear while doing any kind of work. I do have 3 different lumbar belts that I was wearing for certain physical activities before and after the surgery. I still use then on occation.

My retro was pretty bad by the time I was diagnosed. Definately worse with movement. My NS explained it (even though the bulge was small in a neutral positions) the curving fwd/bending shoved the disc into the spinal canal. Also there was a decent amount of arthitis in my facet joint causing pain with movement.

My flexion/extension films were done with me laying on a table. One was flexing backward as far as I could go and the other was curving forwards as far as I could curve. The only time my flex/ex views were standing was for my neck.

I was told to build my core as well which is hard when your tail bone is hanging on by a thread and you are in a great deal of pain. My fusion made all the difference and is solid like a rock now. Core is much stronger than it has been in years.