Spondylolisthesis: Most Common Symptoms

Spondylolisthesis is a condition that refers to the displacement of one vertebra over the one below it. It usually affects people over 40 years of age. We may hear the term degenerative, congenital, or isthmic spondylolisthesis. However, the first is the most common nowadays.

This term was coined by Newman in 1963. Currently, there are different treatments depending on the severity of the disease, which we will discover at the end of this article.

What is spondylolisthesis?

Symptoms

Spondylolisthesis usually affects the bones in the lower back. This is the most common, although there are cases where the problem manifests itself in the mid-back.

How can we identify it? Although there are different symptoms that can alert us to their presence, it is necessary to mention that many patients do not feel anything.

Sometimes  , spondylolisthesis goes completely unnoticed, worsening its condition and causing, many years later, more severe symptoms. Let’s see some of them:

• Back pain : is the most common symptom and appears as if it were a tug. It is a sharp pain that spreads throughout the lower back.
• Weakness in the lower limbs : this can cause the person to walk with the knees slightly bent and in short steps. In these cases, it is normal to feel tingling and numbness.
• Tight hamstrings : Another symptom of spondylolisthesis is the presence, without reason, of tension in the back of the thighs. Spasms also sometimes occur.

• Loss of sphincter control : This is an uncommon symptom but can occur in some patients. Due to weakness in the lower limbs, sphincter control may be impaired.

Physical manifestations for its detection

The symptoms mentioned are not the only ones that can alert us to the presence of this condition. In fact, in case we don’t have any of them,  we can observe some physical manifestations that can attract our attention. Let’s see some examples:

• The abdomen sticks out.
• The trunk looks shorter.
• Curves form in the lower back.

These physical manifestations can be overlooked. However, paying attention to them will allow us to go to the doctor to perform one of the main tests that will allow their detection: the x-ray. Thus, it will be possible to clearly see if there are any displaced vertebrae.

In some cases, your doctor may require more specific tests such as computerized topography and MRI. With these additional tests, it is possible to see more clearly whether there is spondylolisthesis, as well as whether it has affected bones and nerves.

Complications of spondylolisthesis

Despite the symptoms mentioned, there are possible complications of this condition that can have  serious consequences for the quality of life of patients. For example, persistent back pain can lead the patient to adopt a sedentary lifestyle and this will certainly lead to weight gain.

Likewise, inactivity will promote  loss of muscle elasticity and strength, as well as bone density.

Another consequence is rigidity. However, if we have to warn about a very serious complication, it would be the possibility of permanently damaging the nerve that the dislocated vertebra is compressing.

Despite all this,  there are different treatments. The most common is undergoing physical therapy, strengthening the lower back and correcting posture. In other circumstances, surgery is the best option. This way, the dislocated vertebra is put in place and can be fixed with screws so that it doesn’t move again.

We recommend that, in the face of any back discomfort, you see a doctor immediately, especially if this happens daily. Likewise, it is important to adopt proper posture habits to avoid, or at least reduce, the presence of this type of problem, if they are not congenital.