Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is a condition of the spine, which causes pain in the lower back. The primary cause of this health condition is slipping out of one of the vertebrae. Most often, doctors prescribe conservative or nonsurgical treatment to relieve the symptoms, such as tingling and pain.
On the other hand, if you are suffering from a chronic degenerative spondylolisthesis, then you will undergo the minimally invasive surgery, which is a much better option than the open back surgery. In today’s article, we will talk about the degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Read on!
What is Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis?
Spondylolisthesis, in general, is a spinal condition that can lead to instability. Usually, a vertebra slips out from its normal position or place onto the vertebra that lies below it. As a result, this puts pressure on the nerve, leading to lower back and leg pain.
Research shows that the condition occurs when one of the vertebrae slips out of the place, which causes it to improperly rest on the vertebra below it. Sometimes, spondylolisthesis is caused by spondylolysis, which occurs when the slipping is caused by a stress fracture.
A degenerative condition can also cause slipping out of the vertebra from its place. So, the disks between the facet joints and the vertebrae undergo wear and tear. Although bones of the facet joints can grow back, when they overgrow, this can cause an unstable surface area.
What are The Causes of Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis?
The primary cause of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is aging. However, it also occurs in young people, especially in athletes due to the over-extension of the spine. Experts here at MINT has done extensive research on the causes of this health condition.
They have found that hereditary characteristics also play a role in causing this condition. For instance, some individuals have a thinner vertebral bone. Also, in elderly people, the spine can undergo wear and tear, which cause the degeneration of the discs. As a result, the individual feels pain in the lower back or legs.
Sometimes, when a person has spondylolisthesis, he or she may not experience any signs and symptoms. However, if you feel pain, then you need treatment, such as spondylolisthesis surgery.
The main symptoms of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis are muscle spasms in the hamstring, back stiffness, unable to walk or stand properly, painful sensations when bending over, as well as tingling, weakness, and numbness in the foot.
What are the Possible Treatments for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis?
Most often, the doctor advises patients to take a break from everyday activities and get rest until the painful sensations are reduced. Over-the-counter medications, which include naproxen and ibuprofen are also prescribed to relieve pain. However, if these medications don’t work, the doctor will prescribe other drugs with much more effect on relieving the pain.
Conservative treatment options also include steroid injections to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Your doctor may also suggest physical therapy sessions that involve performing certain exercises to ease the pain.
Bracing is another option that can help support your spine and stabilize it within a few weeks. The brace restricts the movement of your spine and helps heal the fractures. However, braces are not useful for older adults.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
When conservative treatment options fail to relieve pain, it is important to undergo spondylolisthesis surgery. Here at MINT, our surgeon may recommend an MIS surgery, which aims to reduce nerve compression and stabilize the degenerative lumbar spine.
Our surgeon will perform spinal fusion and place instrumentation to stop the disc from sliding further. The procedure is also useful for holding the spinal vertebral body in place during the process of healing. Eventually, the bones will fuse together into a single, solid bone.
The primary benefits of spondylolisthesis surgery are small skin incisions, minimized muscle and tissue damage, short duration of the surgery, less blood loss, less pain, shorter hospital stay, faster healing, and rehabilitation.
Contact MINT for Spondylolisthesis Surgery
Spine surgery for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is an advanced procedure performed by the qualified surgeons here at MINT. We have advanced surgical materials, computer-aided navigation systems, and nerve monitoring tools.
Our experienced surgeons are skillful in performing spinal fusion, minimally invasive surgery to join two or more vertebrae in the spine. The purpose is to restrict the movement of the vertebrae, such as slipping out the disc and fuse the vertebrae into a single, solid bone.
If you are feeling pain in the back, it may be caused by degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, and therefore, we recommend you to call MINT and schedule an appointment with our surgeon.
