I need help with spondylolidthesis

C

christinad

New member
Hi there,
Welcome to the boarRAB!
I'm curious, does he want to do surgery for the scoliosis or the spondy or what?
You most definetely need to seek a second and third opinion. Especially if your scoliosis is that serious.
I had surgery for scoliosis when I was 17, I am 27 now and when I went through all of that, I never had an MRI but that was because I had no pain yet and my curvature was very visible on x-ray and that is what they were operating on.
So, are they operating on the spondy or the scoliosis?
If your scoliosis is so severe that they are straightening the curve and doing a fusion, that would take care of the spondy also and that may be what this doctor is referring to. But, I had went to get a second and third opinion and I suggest that would be the best thing. Never just refer to one doctor. There is alot to watch out for when it comes to a decision like this.
Don't think because you have surgery the rest of your life is ruined. Think positive, you will be fine.
Keep me posted on what you decide and what your doctors say. What is your degree of curvature and what levels are affected?
I suggest a good spine specialist who specializes in scoliosis. This may help, type in "scoliosis research society" in your browser and in one of those sites you will find a doctor listing of who is a meraber of this group in your city.
Good luck and keep in touch.

Christina

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27 years old:Complete thoracic fusion (13 levels)at age 17 due to scoliosis: Now, suffer from DDD in lurabar and sacroilliac joints, torn and ruptured discs, facet joint problems and arthritis of course in the remaining vertebre that are unfused.

[This message has been edited by ChristinaD (edited 02-18-2003).]
 
Actually, I just noticed that you are from new york, what part? What is your doctors name?
I had my original surgery at Shriners Hospital in Erie, PA. They would be a good source to ask for a recommendation of a good doctor. You can only go there up to 18, but I asked them for advice after a was 18 and to whom I should seek treatment. Let me know if you need some help in that area.

Christina

[This message has been edited by ChristinaD (edited 02-18-2003).]
 
Xrays (flex, where you bend forward and backward while standing) will show how much slippage is occuring and a fusion with hardware is about the only way to fix it. If you've had xrays, then your doc may not need to see the results of an MRI. Do a search using SPONDYLOLISTHESIS and read some of the past discussions. Also, there are lots of other sites on the net that show options of treatment and different surgery options. I'd post links, but the moderators frown on it, so come back if you have additional after searching. Find out what your doc proposes, what levels will be fused, what kind of hardware, etc. before you decide. Some people have great results, others don't. Good luck.

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Had posterior lurabar interbody fusion at L4/L5/S1 on Jan. 30,'01 with 6 pedicle screws, 2 Steffe plates, 4 Brantigan carbon fiber cages and my own hip graft for spondylolisthesis. Wear leg braces (afo's on both legs)for drop foot from nerve damage.
 
I am a 19 year old female. About 5 years ago i was diagnosed with severe scoliosis. I was put in a back brace for 2 years, and have been fine since. A year ago i started getting severe lower back pain, leading to my but and legs. i put it off for 8 months (thinking it had to do with the scoliosis)..when it got worse i decided to go see a specialist. About 2 months ago i was also diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. I was a gymnast for 10 years, so i figure thats how i got this. Its isthmic grade 1. My orthopedist said to do pysical therapy for 2 months, than contact him. I have been doing the therapy and my back doesnt seem to get better, it actually seems to hurt more. I contacted the doctor and he said, that we can go ahead with surgery since the pain isnt going away. I have not had an MRI, and he said it is not necessary..Should i get an MRI done? I am really scared about going through with this surgery, and i need some info from people that have had the surgery or people that havent had the surgery. I am only 19, and to have back surgery this extensive can ruin the rest of my life..is surgery the best answer to get rid of my excrusiating pain?
Thank you so much for taking time to read this and please respond!

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Ohhh the pain...
 
To answer some of your questions...
I live on long island. My docs in manhatten his name is Dr. Michael Nuewirth.
I am being treated for the spondy not the scoliosis, my curve of scoliosis is now 30 degrees. It has stayed the same for 2 years now..so thats not the problem. I have hyper-lordosis also, which makes the spondy worse i think. My doc saw the exrays of me bending over, but why would that make him not want to do an MRI?
If i have this extreme pain, wouldnt that tell me that i have a pinched nerve or something was wrong with the nerves? It doesnt feel like muscle spasm, more like sharp pains shooting all over my back and but and legs. My doc also just gave me anti-inflamitories, they dont do anything! Anyone know of some good over the counter pain meRAB that will help with the pain?
 
P.S. You all have been so nice and helpful, THANX! I love this board, i thought i was the only one with all these problems!
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I just read your concern and problem with your back and diagnosis of spondylolethesis. I am a 48 year old women who had back surgey 10 years ago. I have a fusion at L4, L5 and S1 with Stephie instrumentation also put in. I did have a second opinion and MRI's to confirm my diagnosis. I would suggest you get a second opinion and MRI's to confirm your diagnosis. Back surgery is nothing to fool with lightly. I did have to have a second surgery to take out the plates and screws in my back because one of the screws broke. The dr also thought that may eleviate some of the nurabness and pain that I have had since surgery in both legs and feet. However, after 4 years of being on Tylox, I was finally sent to a neurologist who finally told me that I now have permanent nerve damage in both legs and feet and this is the best that it will be. I am glad that someone finally came out and was up front with me about the outcome. I can walk, perhaps a little wobbely and slightly bent over at the waist at times but I am just thankful that I can walk.
I wish you the very best, but please do get another if not 2 more opinions and more testing before you let any surgeon open your spine.
 
LaeLee welcome!! BY ALL MEANS PLEASE DON'T LET HIM TOUCH YOU!! Any dr that would operate without even seeing an MRI makes me so nervous to say the least! Please, I'm begging you!! You're right, you are way to young to just jump into something so serious! I'm sure everyone here will tell you the same thing!
Please heed my advice, go get the MRI! If he won't order it for you then get someone who will! It's your body and you can demand to have one! Please keep us posted as to how you are ok? Thank G**D you came here first!
PS...what do your parents think about all this??

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your friend, out2lunch
 
LaeLee,
Hi and welcome! I also am on the island, and have had a fusion, done in Garden City a year and a half ago, since the paion came back after 3 months, I have been fighting this pain, till my PCP had me see Dr. Davis, his office is in stony brook [I think in the hospital].
let me know what part of the island you are on, you could use a decent dr. to rx meRAB! maybe I can help
I know of a good PCP that will treat you, let me know.
good luck hun
bee
 
Hi LaeLee83,

Welcome :D

:eek: I don't think I can say it any better than out2lunch. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't do anything without further investigation, second opinion etc.

Keep in touch. :)

Take Care :wave:
Joanne



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  • Diagnosed DDD 1993
  • C4-C5 posterior osteophytic bar effacing ventral thecal sac Mild stenosis of neural foramina
  • C5-C6 posterior disc protrusion effacing v t s .Mild stenosis of neural foramina
  • C6-C7 posterior disc herniation effacing v t s . Mild stenosis of neural foramina
  • C7-T1 Small perineural cysts present in both neural foramina.
  • left convex scoliosis of mid thoracic spine. wedging of T7. wedging of T5 .degenerative end plate changes at T8-T9
  • L4-L5 diffuse disc bulge effacing v t s. hypertrophy of facet joints, minimal central spinal stenosis.
  • L5-S1 posterior disc protrusion with associated tear of annulus fibrosis. hypertrophy of facet joints.
  • S1-S2 Perineural cysts involving S1-S2 nerve roots.
 
Hi LaeLee, :wave:

Ditto to what was already said.

Please get another opinion, and make sure that you have either an MRI or Cat Scan done.
Discograms are usually done prior to any major back surgery, so please get looked at further
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Please keep us informed, and welcome to the boarRAB
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:bouncing:

Be Well,
Baxter
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Two level laminectomy fusion L5-S1 & L2-3 done on 12/6/02.
Fifteen inch scar from the very top of butt crack (sorry), to the bra line.
BAK cages, roRAB & screws.(Titanium)
My pelvic bone was used for grafting.
Praying that the other two discs in between, won't have to be fused later, as I was told it was a possibility, due to the other two discs in between, not being in that great of shape.
Doc didn't want to fuse four levels, unless it is really necessary.
I would hate to repeat the surgery, as the recovery period, is so very painful.
I also have a free fragment in my T11-12 area, that I'm still refusing surgery for, at this point in time.
That surgery is way too dangerous for me to consider, until if affects my being able to walk.
 
Wow, thanx alot..I didnt realize how important an MRI is! I trusted my doctor because he treated my for scoliosis, and he is one of the top ten back surgeons in the U.S. He even did surgery to Gloria Estevans back! I will deffinately get a second opinion as soon as possible..I live on long island, do you guys know of any good specialists in the new york area?
 
My son is 13 and was diagnosed with spondylolysis 2 years ago. He now has grade 1 spondylolithesis. He has been wearing a brace for about 6 months. His slippage is still the same but the pain is getting worse. He does have his good few weeks and then a couple of really good weeks - but keeps ending up with a couple of weeks of severe pain. We are seeing the doctor at least once a month. Anyone out there have any additional advise or information. They are now talking about fusion surgery in the spring - it is his L5 - S1 - thanks for any help
 
If you go to spine.org they have a list of spine specialists. They aren't all surgeons but they are all spine specialists.
fly
 
hello everyone,

newbie here.... I've been recently diagnosed with spondylolethesis... just from the reviews of x-rays... had a MRI done yesterday, don't know the results as of yet... so I don't know what grade of spondyloletheis I have.

I don't have any back pain; BUT the pain down my right leg is (at times) unbearable, and more often than not the right foot is nurab; several frienRAB have recommended the use of a chiropractor.

I've never been to one and was wondering what opinions I could get from others with this condition and the use of a chiropractor?
 
Hello clemsoncpa,

Welcome to the board. Spondylolisthesis is the one issue that is really easy to see on an x-ray. You don't want to be worked on by a chiropracter with this condition. They really can do more harm than good.

You didn't say who made your diagnosis. I would recommend that you find a top-notch spinal specialist, either an orthopedic or neuro surgeon who has additional fellowship training in the spine. You probably have a pinched nerve that is causing the pain in your leg. It may be possible to undergo physical therapy that will help with the pain. It depenRAB on what is causing the pain. There are a variety of things that could be causing this problem, and it is possible that the spondy isn't one of them.

You first need a solid diagnosis before you try to resolve the problem.
 
HI
I just had surgey for spondylolisthesis. (34, female) I had pars fractures at l4 and 5. (I was a figure skater and my injury was aggrivated by a car accident) I had an MRI and an EMG done. They couldn't see the fractures on the MRI or xray. I had surgey a few weeks ago and given the choice I don't know if i would do it again. I tried everything else though including meRAB, chiro, and physiotherapy. Physio made it worse which is why they did the EMG. I had a second opinion and both neurosurgeons said surgery was e only option but right now my leg pain is worse than before surgery so I don't know yet if I made the right decision. I would definitely get another opinion and ask to talk to patients that have done a similar surgery as they are considering. Feel free to keep in touch with me. My opinion on surgery hopefuly will change as healing progressses.
 
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