Spondylolisthesis Symptoms

Spondylolisthesis Symptoms left358140The misalignment of one or more vertebrae in the spinal column (also known as spondylolisthesis) can lead to a number of spondylolisthesis symptoms. While most common in the lower region of the back, known as the lumbar spine, this condition can potentially occur throughout the back and neck, leading to a wide range of symptoms at various areas of the body. Spinal Anatomy In a healthy spine, individual vertebrae are stacked one on top of another and span from the base of the skull all the way to the tail bone. In order to keep the vertebrae from grinding together, soft, spongy intervertebral discs are positioned between the bones, effectively cushioning the spine and preventing painful bone-on-bone contact. The vertebrae are further stabilized by intervertebral joints that allow the bones to articulate comfortably, providing the flexibility needed for full range of motion in the back and neck. In a healthy, strong spine, the various anatomical components work in unison to allow for the subtle movements that we take for granted with daily use. However, over the years as an individual grows older, these regular movements can take their toll and cause the spinal column to naturally deteriorate as a result of regular wear and tear. This degeneration doesn’t happen overnight and the early stages of spinal deterioration normally go entirely unnoticed, but eventually the individual may experience a number of symptoms ranging in severity. Spondylolisthesis is an example of a degenerative spine condition that can develop from spinal deterioration. This condition occurs when one vertebra slides out of position and ends up on top of the vertebra directly below it by either slipping forward or backward (retrospondylolisthesis). Spondylolisthesis can develop a number of ways, but it is usually a result of the onset of degenerative disc disease, where the intervertebral disc weakens, bulges, or ruptures, allowing the vertebra above it to fall out of place. This condition can cause a number of spondylolisthesis symptoms. What it Means to Have Spondylolisthesis Symptoms One of the most interesting aspects of spondylolisthesis is that while the misalignment of vertebrae may sound like a serious and debilitating condition, many people never even know they have the condition. Spondylolisthesis is characterized into numerous grades, used to depict the extent of the misalignment, and symptoms vary from grade to grade and patient to patient. An individual with Grade 1 spondylolisthesis, for example, has 0-25 percent misalignment of the vertebra, as opposed to someone with Grade 4 spondylolisthesis, who has 75-100 percent misalignment. So while an individual may have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, there are varying degrees of the condition. Additionally, particularly in the earlier stages, spondylolisthesis may be entirely asymptomatic. This is because many of the symptoms commonly associated with the condition are caused not by the vertebral misalignment, but by nerve compression within the spinal column that can occur as a result of the misalignment. But if the misaligned vertebra does not come into contact with the spinal cord or any of the nerves within the canal, the patient may remain unaware of their condition. Symptoms right2647950That being said, there are a number of spondylolisthesis symptoms that a patient with the condition may experience. It doesn’t come as a surprise that the most common symptom associated with the condition is chronic pain experienced locally at the site of the spondylolisthesis. However, when nerve compression occurs, a whole range of different symptoms can follow. This is because a number of nerves branch off the spinal cord in the spinal canal before extending throughout the body. When the regular function of one of these nerves is interfered with by a degenerated disc, spondylolisthesis, or another degenerative spine condition, the muscles and muscle groups innervated by that particular nerve can be affected. Take sciatica, for example. The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the body. It begins in the spinal canal in the lumbar region of the spine in the lower back and extends down both legs and into the feet. When the sciatic nerve becomes compressed, the most common symptom associated with this condition isn’t lower back pain, but rather sharp pain in the legs. This is known as radiating or traveling pain, and symptoms like these can make diagnosing the presence of a degenerative spine condition difficult because an individual with leg pain or weakness in an arm usually doesn’t first assume the problem originates in the spine. Then, valuable time can be lost attempting to treat the spondylolisthesis symptoms without actually treating the condition itself. In addition to pain, some of the other spondylolisthesis symptoms that may be experienced include: ,[object Object]

Spondylolisthesis Symptoms

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Spondylolisthesis Symptoms