u/Old-Drop-3240

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to hear from women who have L5-S1 spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis and went through pregnancy without having spinal surgery beforehand.

I’d really love to hear your experiences:
- Were you able to get pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy?
- Did your back pain or nerve symptoms get worse during pregnancy?
- Did your slip progress or remain stable?
- Were you able to deliver vaginally, or did you need a C-section?
- Did you work with an orthopedic/spine specialist or physical therapist during pregnancy?
- What helped you manage your symptoms?
- If you were considering surgery before pregnancy, did you decide to postpone it afterward?

I know everyone’s situation is different and I’m not looking for medical advice, just hoping to hear some real-life experiences and stories. ❤️

Thank you!

I’d love to hear about your experience especially if you had surgery (ALIF, TLIF, or another fusion) or chose conservative treatment under his care.

How was your experience with him? How has your recovery or outcome been?

Anyone here treated by Dr.Andrew K. Simpson, MD - UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX?

I’d love to hear about your experience especially if you had surgery (ALIF, TLIF, or another fusion) or chose conservative treatment under his care.

How was your experience with him? How has your recovery or outcome been?

I’m 28 and have L5-S1 isthmic (lytic) spondylolisthesis with bilateral pars defects, a Grade 2 (borderline Grade 3 on standing X-rays) slip, and severe bilateral L5 foraminal stenosis causing leg pain (sciatica). I’ve seen multiple spine specialists, and they all agree that if/when I have surgery, it will need to be a fusion. However, they differ on the approach:

* Two surgeons recommended ALIF (anterior approach).

* One neurosurgeon recommended a TLIF/posterior-only approach, saying he prefers avoiding the anterior approach in a young patient.

I’m currently trying physical therapy first since my symptoms are manageable and there’s no emergency, but I’m researching my options carefully.

I’d love to hear from people who had a similar diagnosis:

* Which procedure did you have - ALIF or TLIF?

* Why was that approach recommended for you?

* How has your recovery been?

* If you could do it again, would you choose the same surgery?

* Is there anything you wish you had asked your surgeon beforehand?

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!

I’m 28 and have L5-S1 isthmic (lytic) spondylolisthesis with bilateral pars defects, a Grade 2 (borderline Grade 3 on standing X-rays) slip, and severe bilateral L5 foraminal stenosis causing leg pain (sciatica). I’ve seen multiple spine specialists, and they all agree that if/when I have surgery, it will need to be a fusion. However, they differ on the approach:

* Two surgeons recommended ALIF (anterior approach).

* One neurosurgeon recommended a TLIF/posterior-only approach, saying he prefers avoiding the anterior approach in a young patient.

I’m currently trying physical therapy first since my symptoms are manageable and there’s no emergency, but I’m researching my options carefully.

I’d love to hear from people who had a similar diagnosis:

* Which procedure did you have - ALIF or TLIF?

* Why was that approach recommended for you?

* How has your recovery been?

* If you could do it again, would you choose the same surgery?

* Is there anything you wish you had asked your surgeon beforehand?

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!

Hi everyone, I’m 28 and diagnosed with Grade 2 L5-S1 lytic spondylolisthesis with spondylolysis. My spine specialist also noted mild weakness in my right foot, and I have an MRI scheduled this week to check for nerve involvement.
My pain is around 5/10. Sitting, sleeping, and working my desk job are the hardest right now. I’m walking as tolerated, avoiding heavy lifting, and following my doctor’s advice.
For anyone with a similar diagnosis, were you able to avoid surgery? What treatments, exercises, or lifestyle changes helped you the most? I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences.
Thank you!

What’s a small decision that had a huge impact on your life?

What’s a truth about life that people don’t like hearing?

What’s a “normal” thing that secretly makes life way better?

I’m 147–151 lbs depending on the day. These measurements are from my smart scale. I’m interested in hearing what stands out, whether my body fat percentage seems healthy, and what areas I should focus on if my goal is improving overall fitness and body composition. Any feedback is appreciated.

Weight
147.8lb

BMI
23.2

Body Fat 24.8%
Fitness

Skeletal Muscle
43.8%

Fat-Free Mass
111.0 lb

Subcutaneous Fat
22.6%

Visceral Fat
6

Body Water
51.6%

Muscle Mass
104.4 lb

Bone Mass
6.6 1b

Protein
17.8%

BMR
1453 kcal

I’ve been playing pickleball pretty regularly for a while now, and I usually join open play sessions that are labeled “intermediate/advanced” or “competitive.”

Lately, I’ve noticed a pattern where beginners will join these games. I completely understand everyone has to start somewhere, and I don’t have an issue with that in general. But when it happens in these more competitive rotations, the whole flow of the game changes — rallies get very short, a lot of balls go out, and the pace drops significantly.

I’m finding myself feeling a bit frustrated because I only have limited time to play, and I’m trying to get good, fast-paced games in. When beginners are in the rotation, it sometimes feels like the session turns into more of a casual practice than competitive play.

At the same time, I don’t want to come across as gatekeeping or discouraging new players. Everyone deserves a chance to learn and improve.

So I guess my question is:
Is it reasonable to feel like my time is being “wasted” in these situations, or is this just part of playing in open community sessions? How do others handle this without sounding rude or unwelcoming?

Yellowstone & Grand Teton 5-Day Road Trip Itinerary (Camping, Wildlife & Scenic Stops from Salt Lake City)

At 4 AM in complete darkness, we were driving through Yellowstone National Park when we saw glowing eyes on the road—bison standing completely still in the headlights.

A few hours later, we saw wolves. Then bears. Then entire valleys filled with wildlife moving like we weren’t even there.

This was a 5-day road trip from Salt Lake City through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and it turned into one of the most surreal wildlife experiences we’ve ever had.

We camped, drove long distances, woke up before sunrise, and slowly realized something simple: Yellowstone doesn’t follow your schedule—you follow its rhythm.

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Why This Route Works So Well

This itinerary covers:

Yellowstone’s geothermal core (Old Faithful + Grand Prismatic Spring)
Lamar Valley (best wildlife viewing in the U.S.)
Hayden Valley (evening wildlife movement)
Grand Teton scenic drives + hikes
A clean loop from Salt Lake City through Wyoming

If you’re planning a first visit, this route balances driving time, major landmarks, and wildlife opportunities without feeling rushed.

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Quick Trip Overview (For Planning)

Duration: 5 days (Thursday night to Monday)
Start/End: Salt Lake City
Yellowstone Base: Madison Campground (2 nights)
Grand Teton Base: Signal Mountain Campground (1 night)
Entry Point: West Yellowstone Entrance
Travel Style: Camping + road trip + hiking + wildlife drives

Highlights:

Lamar Valley at dawn
Grand Prismatic Spring
Old Faithful eruption
Hidden Falls hike (Grand Teton)
Schwabacher Landing sunrise
Antelope Island bison sightings

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Salt Lake City → Yellowstone: The Road Begins

We flew into Salt Lake City on Thursday night and stayed in a cozy Airbnb just to rest before the drive.

The next morning, we started the 5–6 hour drive toward Yellowstone, entering through the West Entrance.

Stop: Idaho Falls (Worth the Break)

Walked to the falls
City Bagels (good bagels)
Hot chocolate (average)

It’s a simple but solid stop before entering Yellowstone.

Before the park, we stocked up on camping essentials—fresh food, snacks, and firewood.

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Yellowstone National Park: Camping at Madison

We stayed at Madison Campground for 2 nights, which turned out to be a perfect base for exploring the western side of Yellowstone.

We used the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass, which is worth it if you’re visiting multiple parks.

We also packed all camping gear into checked luggage, which made setup surprisingly easy.

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Day 1: Geysers, Steam & First Impressions

Lower Geyser Basin

A short boardwalk loop (~0.5 miles) through:

Bubbling mud pots
Steam vents everywhere
Active geysers

This was our first real moment of realizing Yellowstone is geologically alive.

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Midway Geyser Basin: Grand Prismatic Spring

Walking up to Grand Prismatic felt unreal. The colors are so intense that your brain takes a moment to accept they’re natural.

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Lunch: Old Faithful Lodge

Black bean quinoa burger
Huckleberry ice cream

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Old Faithful Geyser

We checked eruption timing and joined the crowd waiting. Even though it’s predictable, it still feels like a shared event every time.

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Fairy Falls Overlook

~1.2-mile round-trip hike
Overlook view of Grand Prismatic Spring

Mystic Falls Trail was closed due to bear activity.

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Evening Wind Down

Gibbon River Falls (quiet, peaceful, almost empty)
Artist Paint Pots (soft light, low crowd geothermal area)

Dinner at camp: cup ramen on a propane stove—simple, but one of the most memorable meals of the trip.

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Day 2: Lamar Valley at 4 AM (The Highlight of the Trip)

We left at 3:30 AM for Lamar Valley.

Driving through Yellowstone in complete darkness feels like entering another world—no scenery, just road, headlights, and silence.

Then slowly, wildlife appears.

First, bison eyes glowing in the dark. Then movement everywhere.

Lamar Valley (Before Sunrise)

Wildlife sightings:

Black wolves
White wolves
Black bears
Grizzly bears
Thousands of bison
Moose
Elk

This was the most surreal part of the entire trip.

Tip: Bring binoculars. It completely changes the experience.

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Mammoth Hot Springs

White travertine terraces stretching across the landscape—even under cloudy skies, it looked sculpted.

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Tower Falls

Short stop, quick trail, worth it.

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Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Brink of Lower Falls hike
Brink of Upper Falls viewpoints

The scale is difficult to process until you’re standing at the edge.

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Hayden Valley (Evening)

More wildlife:

Bears
Large bison herds

Best timing: sunrise or sunset in Lamar and Hayden Valleys.

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Day 3: Yellowstone → Grand Teton National Park

We exited Yellowstone and entered Grand Teton National Park, staying at Signal Mountain Campground.

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Grand Teton Scenic Drive Stops

This drive is less about rushing and more about constant stops:

Jackson Lake
Mormon Row
Oxbow Bend
Schwabacher Landing
Snake River Overlook
Elk Ranch Flats turnouts

Each stop gives a different angle of the Teton range.

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Jenny Lake & Hidden Falls Hike

We hiked instead of taking the shuttle:

Moose Pond Trail
Hidden Falls Trail

We couldn’t reach Inspiration Point due to weather, but Hidden Falls alone was worth the hike.

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Sunrise at Schwabacher Landing

We returned early morning, and everything was still—water, air, light.

The Teton peaks reflected perfectly in the river. It was one of the quietest and most peaceful moments of the trip.

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A Small Accident (Bear Spray Moment)

A bear spray can fell from a pocket and released a faint smell. We started coughing, and even people walking ahead reacted the same way.

For a moment, we thought something was wrong—until we realized what had happened.

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Final Day: Grand Teton → Salt Lake City

Stops on the way back:

Jackson Lake (coffee at Cowboy Coffee Co.)
Pearl Street Bagels (breakfast stop)

Before flying out, we also visited:

Antelope Island State Park

Great Salt Lake views
Bison roaming freely
Fielding Garr Ranch

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Final Food Stops in Salt Lake City

Thai restaurant (average)
Rockwell Ice Cream Company:
Goat ice cream
Honeycomb ice cream (best stop of the trip)

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Final Thoughts

Yellowstone and Grand Teton aren’t places you simply “visit.”

They’re places you move through slowly—where the best moments happen when you’re not rushing from one viewpoint to the next.

Early mornings. Long drives. Unexpected wildlife. Quiet stops that end up staying with you longer than the famous landmarks.

If there’s one takeaway from this trip, it’s this:

You notice more when you stop trying to move fast through it.