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Tue, 11/10/2009 - 21:50
Retrolisthesis anyone?
from what i can gather, its the opposite of spondylisthesis...meaning the slippage goes back instead of forward.
anyone had this and what was your course of care?
i see the neurosurgeon next week, but am curious of others' experiences.
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DDD;SPINAL STENOSIS;HERNIATED DISK
NOV 2007: L4-L5 LAMINECTOMY, MICRODISCECTOMY
Dec 07-Dec 08: recurring back pain
JUL 09: leg pain returns...back to the Neurosurgeon Nov 09
***crawling back here for support.
"Retrolisthesis (backwards slippage of one vertebral body on another) has historically been regarded as an incidental finding, one which doesn’t cause any symptoms, and is considered to be of little or no clinical significance. Few studies have been done to date and little is known about this condition. The literature has found a possible association between retrolisthesis and increased back pain and impaired back function. 1-4
Retrolisthesis may occur more commonly than initially believed. Series have shown that retrolisthesis may be present in up to 30% of extension radiographs of patients complaining of chronic low back pain.5 Retrolisthesis has been found to be associated with disc degeneration, decrease in lumbar lordosis, and decrease in vertebral endplate angle."
The above is taken from a study on the NIH website.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2278018/
It may be that this, along with all your other degenerative changes are causing the increase in pain. Retrolisthesis rarely occurs by itself so is not thought to be a pain generator as much as having a degenerative situation with the discs, endplates, etc. At this point, it is likely you are having some nerve compression that is causing your renewed leg pain. The nerve might be getting "squished" by the movement caused by retrolisthesis.
Hope this helps a bit.
Gwennie
I have no medical training. Comments are based on personal experience and lots of research and reading.
PLIF @ L4-5 with Peek cage, rods and screws Jan 2008
Lami-foraminotomy L5-S1 Jan 2009
Fusion L3-S1 coming up -- maybe!!
thank you...after pouring over info online, i sorta found the same info. this was not on my MRI before my laminectomy. so, i wonder if the removal of that bone caused weakening and the subsequent slippage???
DDD;SPINAL STENOSIS;HERNIATED DISK
NOV 2007: L4-L5 LAMINECTOMY, MICRODISCECTOMY
Dec 07-Dec 08: recurring back pain
JUL 09: leg pain returns...back to the Neurosurgeon Nov 09
***crawling back here for support.
I had Retro in my lumbar and the fusion was the best thing. Mine was grade 3 almost completely dislocated. Any movement caused the disc to press into my spinal column.
Mine did not show up on MRI either but the flexion/extension views. My NS said I was probably born this way and it worsened with age.
Julie
MRI 12/07 L4-5 Herniated w/Nerve Impingment. L5/S1 Posterior Central Protrusions- indents @Thecal Sac. L4/S1 Moderate Facet Anthropy. 6/08 MRI and Flexion Extension Xrays- revealed grade 3 Retrolisthesis L5/S1, Spondy L4
Constant LBP and Bilateral Radiculopathy going on 17 months. PT, MT, Chiro, Traction, Selective Nerve Root Injections........ You name it I probably did it.
*****L4-S1 PLIF 7/28/08******* Considered a perfect success!
Newest problem: Shocking sharp pain in neck, shoulders and elbows, burning painful hands, and constant numbness/tingling in both hands.
MRI C6-7 disc protrusion with right lateral recess narrowing, C5-6 disc protrusion & spondylosis with bilateral neuralformen bony stenosis.
I am currently waiting for my neck surgery to be schedule ACDF C5/C6/C7- Insurance has required conservative treatment (PT and elecromagnetic therapy).
thanks for the reply, julie...
i am so anxious about this dr appt next week. i hope they will just fuse my spine already...ever since my laminectomy/disectomy, all ive had is problems.
id rather lose some flexibility and be able to stand long enough to cook my kids a meal.
my husband is deployed to iraq right now and my poor kids have to do everything for themselves cuz i cant do anything wihtout tearing up in pain. ugh!
DDD;SPINAL STENOSIS;HERNIATED DISK
NOV 2007: L4-L5 LAMINECTOMY, MICRODISCECTOMY
Dec 07-Dec 08: recurring back pain
JUL 09: leg pain returns...back to the Neurosurgeon Nov 09
***crawling back here for support.