grade 1 spondylolethis

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Myataeya

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I have grade one Spondylethis which has slipped I have had it for 13 years with no problems now I have severe pain in back, buttocks and legs have tried everything from Epidural, Pt, not a cannadate for nerve block I have to let surgeron know if I want surgery, He said I would have 70% chance of it working, and that surgery might make it worse, help I don't know what to do. I am on percoxet two four times a day does not take pain or leg pain away. it hurts 18 to 24 hours a day. This has gone on 13 months now.
Barbara
 
I have been diagnosed with spondylolysis but believe it has gotten far worse over the last year. I have had chronic pain for about 4 years and have seen many specialists and have gone through PT, trigger point injections, and a spinal epidural to help with my pain and at this point nothing has helped. I am afraid I am looking at a grim future I have also been diagnosed with DDD, and a pars defect in L5 vert. I am nervous at the idea of surgery because my grandmother had 3 lower back surgery's and just continued to get worse but at this point as of a year ago I have been told I am not a surgical candidate as of yet so suffering is all I can do. I live on an island in Alaska so I have to travel to see any kind of orthopedic specialists and am hoping to get to another one very soon because I am starting to have serious problems. My legs are going nurab and radiate with pain and I am loosing sensation with my bladder and feel I may be in some trouble with some compromised nerves. I hope you get help and send my best wishes to you! Tish.
 
I have had a Grade 2 spondy due to a Bilateral Pars defect for over 20 years now. Grade 1 prior to that. I also had the same pain issues you describe. The doctor I have been seeing for this condition for several years worked with me until we found a drug regimen that helped to significantly control the pain. What worked for me was Topamax, 125 mg/day plus Ultram 50 mg PRN. This really controls the sciatica, which was 24/7 bilateral. Please remeraber, what worked for me may not work for somebody else due to different chemistry. The point I am trying to make is that there are other options besides surgery. I have actually been advised by EVERY doctor I have seen to avoid surgery until I have no other choice. My condition has been so long standing (30+ years) with so much scarring and degeneration that surgery is really iffy.
 
I too, have had grade 2 spondy, with bilateral pars defect at L5 for most of my life. I also have severe DDD at that same level. I currently do NOT take any pain meRAB...however, I had been using Tramadol (Ultram) with limited success. It helped with the low back pain, but didn't touch the leg pain. I made the decision to "kick" my Tramadol usage...which was tough because I had horrid withdrawal symptoms...and I was taking the lowest dosage (50mg/day) that is produced. I basically went off it cold turkey, since I really couldn't wean myself down off of 1 pill. Like I said...bad WD for about a week...after that, I was good. I definitely do NOT want fusion surgery. Exercise is the only thing that helps with the pain & stiffness. If I sit or lay too long, that's when my back tightens up and I have a hard time getting up again. I tried physical therapy...but it didn't work for me because I'm already quite active with my exercise. Good luck in finding a way to reduce to your pain...I can certainly sympathize with your situation.
 
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