r/Spondylolisthesis

I try to be a good narrator when talking to people, and I’m trying to come up with a succinct and understandable way to tell people about my Spondy when they ask why I might be walking funny from sciatica or have one of those “spicy pops” that causes a visible jolt.

Would it be accurate to say you have a stress fracture that caused vertebrae to slip out of place? How do you inform others without having to use the hard-to-pronounce term, “spondylolisthesis?”

Hi everyone. I’m trying to lose some weight as part of my PT’s recommendation. Aside from strength training I want to do some cardio to also improve my cardiovascular health. Ideally it’s something that allows me to work with my HR zones with varying intensity but I’m opened to LISS cardio too.

So far I have tried elliptical, light jogging, recumbent bike but they all end up with some numbness or tingling after, and it lasts for a few days so I’m not sure if it worsens my condition or if I just need to push through.

I was hoping to get some recommendations or hear what everyone is doing for cardio and how do you work around the pains and pinches.

I have isthmic spondylisthesis 8 mm slippage with severe bilateral foraminal stenosis with bone spurs advanced degenerative disc with gas, and bilateral pars defect. I have surgery on September 15, 2026. I’m in a lot pain right now and my pain has advanced in both legs. I currently take muscle relaxers, inflammation medicine, and nerve pain medicine. I take these at night because they make me drowsy and loopy I still work but I’m wore out when I get home. My surgery will consist of L5-S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion with prosthetic cage placement and application of bone morphogenic protein followed by percutaneous posterior lumbar instrumented fusion at L5-S1. This will be performed all on the same surgery. Has anyone experienced this surgery what should I expect? Also, what advice would you give me moving forward ?

I go in for a follow-up tomorrow to review my MRI with my doctor (orthopedic surgeon). After looking at my x-rays and assessing my history and symptoms last time, he let me know surgery might be needed, but that obviously we would wait for the MRI results (started 2x week PT in the meantime).

What questions should I ask tomorrow? What did you ask your doctor? What do you wish you had asked? I want to be well-informed, but it's hard to know what to ask or what the gaps in my (limited) knowledge might be.

I(F27) was recently diagnosed with retrolisthesis L5S1 grade 1 and osteoarthritis. My retrolisthesis was most probably degenerative due to a brain tumor that caused very accelerated metabolism. The tumor is now gone but of course the damage is done and I still cannot stay seated for longer than 2 hours or my left half of the hip and left leg will hurt for days.

Right now I'm wearing a dorsolumbar corset/brace and doing breathing exercises and reverse crunches with a inflatable ball, also lifting 1 kilo weighs, but nothing seems to do much for my pain, I used to use an elliptical but I heard it was bad for retrolisthesis so I stopped. 2 weeks ago I had to sit for 3 or 4 hours straight and my leg had been in constant pain since. the only times I don't feel pain is when I'm constantly walking, and sitting makes it way worse. So I was wondering if walking is the exercise I really need to start rebuilding the core strength and stop the pain.

I can't really just go outside and walk because I live in a rural zone and I'm visually impaired so if that is the most recommended exercise then I'd need a walking machine instead.

I don't get them too often, but I get the most painful muscle cramps in my left calf. Doc said it could definitely be from the nerve being compressed from my spondylolithesis. I had all my babies without pain meds and this pain is comparable to labor, if not worse. The cramps scare the shit out of me, and when I feel one coming on, I panic a little. It feels like my leg bones are going to snap in half from the muscle tension.

The only thing that relieves the pain (sometimes) is sitting in the hottest water I can physically stand. Has anyone here experienced this? Other remedies I can try?

This is the way my body breaks down. Well, almost...

About fifteen years ago, my back and hips were hurting at work. This led to THR, both sides, 6 months apart.

Post-op the hips were even, the back hurt more. Experienced foot drop.

Ten years later, finally get the spine fused, S1 - T4. Recovery was about two years.

My legs strengthened and my balance improved with PT.

At the end of two years, ended up dislocating one of my hips.

The ball in the R hip moved after the spinal fusion. Pulled my hip out cleaning the tub. Lots of tissue damage.

THR revision on that one side. About 3 weeks ago. The hip is healing great.

This week, my left knee goes out from overuse. And I have a huge bulge on my lower spine.

Seroma was drained. Bulge remained. I struggle to stand straight. I try to incorporate stretching and light PT.

I can barely walk, even though my hip would let me, the knee won't at this time. Both knees are swollen.

What do you expect the next "step" is?

I’m considering surgery (decompression and fusion) l5-s1 and I have hyperlordosis, I’m Wondering what useful things to have before and after surgery? I’ve been looking at stuff on Amazon but there’s just so much and I don’t know what are pointless, don’t want to waste money lol. What can’t you live without now? For me right now I can’t live without my feet and thigh supports, the compression really helps with the deep leg aches I get, although it doesn’t stop the tingling

I am at a crossroads with this injury. I have tried:
- Epidural Steroid Injection
- Gabapentin and Lyrica (still on Lyrica but it’s done nothing at 2+ weeks)
- All kinds of pain relievers (Tylenol at max dose per day, Motrin, etc.)
- Muscle relaxers
- Oral and IV steroids
- PT (currently going 2x a week)
- Nerve pain topicals (OTC only)

Is there anything to help with the pain that worked for you? I am in agony at points in the night and mornings, with many painful episodes during the day that come and go. I have been operating in survival mode, and I’m absolutely exhausted from pain while I navigate motherhood (my baby is 2 months old). I am pretty sure I’m nearing the surgery option but I’m terrified to do it, especially with a baby.

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I am 22 and and got diagnosed with buldge at 2 levels and herniaion at L5-S1 i used to jump high walls and play around at my age

Then I went to a third doc to get opinion and he tells me I have a grade 1 spondylolisthesis or pars defect and may need surgery and it shook me for the moment but I was rather calm the upcoming weeks

Now already I'm a bit tensed with everything then The worst thing happens I run over a speed breaker/bump couldn't see due to very heavy rain and get in a moderate impact collision the same day within few hours.

At this point I was already scared but that night I woke up in the middle of my sleep and just couldn't breath and that continues till now its' been 3 weeks now.

I raised to the doctor got an mri and xray they said everything looks the same but I know it isn't or atleast the pain wasn't the same and I was told to go on bed rest for 3 days bt some and by 2 weeks by some I choose 2 weeks but I shouldn't have.

During those 2 weeks we were switching places and I was continuously sneezing already suffering from pain it was my breaking point so I went to live alone and i regret it so much

I was just there alone researching about my pars which is grade 1 and just looking at other ppl stories and just hyper ventilating and crying and now it's gotten to the point I wake up mid sleep and the first thought in my mind is "why me"

I have trouble breathing,I have constant headaches and I am constantly just depressed I can remember the last time I smiled or laughed and I just contemplate ending it all and no one truly understands what I am going through

I was pretty happy before the accident and way playing games and enjoying n shi but idk what happend after the accident is isn't even that much different than before but the mental toll is just insanely immense

Pls help before i take the wrong steps

So I’m having the minimally invasive TLIF in September due to chronic bi lateral pars fractures and grade 2 spondy I’ve been dealing with for 6+ months and wanted to hear some success stories along with what my recover may be like. If anyone has any advice or recommendations I am all ears! Thank you. I’m so ready to feel okay again and normal. It’s been a painful journey.

Tomorrow is my surgery, finally. The radiculopathy was the reason I am going forward with it. I need to be fit and live like I used to. 4 months of left leg nerve symptoms , what really aggravates it is body weight squats , twisting or the slightest backward movement . Hope this is the start to recovery

Grade 2 at L5 S1, diagnosed two years ago. PT helps but I still get the deep ache after sitting a while or lifting something awkward. My doctor said a brace is okay for short stretches when I need it. Trying to work out what to actually buy. What back braces are people here using and do they help?

Looking for advice or any similar experiences!

My history is: diagnosed with a grade 4 spondy at L4/L5 by age 13, with a typical fusion at 14. That first fusion resulted in several complications (CSF leak, failed hardware, re-dislocation) and never relieved pain. At 16 I had a subsequent fusion including the pelvis which did actually fuse but also never relieved pain.

Now in adulthood (23) my pain has regressed to a similar level as pre/between surgeries, except is it focused on the SI joints and above the fusion. It’s undetermined whether this is pain related or not related to the fusion as I’ve been trying and failing to get a referral to ortho for almost 4 years now. I do have a rheumatologist looking into possibilities like psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

I’m curious if anyone has experienced anything similar to this, failed fusions in childhood, spinopelvic fusion, etc. I’m also curious, if anyone has developed degeneration or another spondy above their existing fusion, what was your experience like?

Lately im a bit at the end of my rope with pain as I only have Celebrex and voltarin to manage it, and heat/ice is not doing anything lately. Ive also developed some numbness in the past week which frankly feels like a blessing as it’s so much easier to handle in the moment than the constant pain lol. So advice for managing it is welcome.

Thanks for reading

Surgery or not? A bit of a special case...

Hi everyone.

First of all - Thank you everyone for this really special community

I am a 41M with degenerative disc disease.

I have had multiple large herniations with slipped discs/sequesters along the whole spine for the last five or so years

The last two years I have mostly issues in my lower back with 3-4 herniations on several levels and a large prolapse in the lower back, with one disc almost completely disintegrated.

I have several pain medications and have had that for the last two years.

Now for my dilemma:

I can undergo a fusion with disc replacement whenever I want. Three separate orthopedic surgeons have recommended me to do this.

At the same time, two extremely knowledgeable and experienced (60 years of experience amongst them two) GPs discourage me firmly to undergo surgery.

Both of them tell me that not one of their patients have benefited from the multiple Surgeries they have gone through in the long run.

To add to all of this:

When I am sitting, and especially when lying down, my symtoms are completely manageable. I sleep without any pain.

When walking and moving around the sciatica down both legs öand moderate-to-severe local lumbar pain kicks in almost immediately. I have maybe one good week where I can move completely freely and then there weeks where I hardly can walk.

However when I take a high dose oxycodone I am almost completely functional even when moving

Anyone been in a similar situation?

Not asking for medical advice, I have just not been able to find anyone IRL or online with a similar conundrum

Thanks again!!!

Ive tried all simple core exercises even lying down ones yet all I feel is pain around my l5-s1 with foot tingle anyone have any suggestions ive been to 2 pts hasnt really helped ive done lower back strengthening and side abs which has helped a lot but any time i try bracing from the front it just gives me more pain

Laying down or any type of plank feels the worst

I have been trying to sleep with a pillow between my knees to alleviate some of the pain I have in the mornings, but I run into the issue of it just moving around and not doing much to benefit me. I’ve contemplated getting a maternity pillow but wanted to see if yall had any suggestions. TIA! :)

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!

my aunt recently got Spondylolisthesis so I looked it up and found out that yoga or contortion can be cause in future. Do you think so ? Is it dangerous to keep practicing especially later in my life ?