2. Getting a spondylolisthesis diagnosis before
beginning a treatment regimen may seem like a
matter of course, but you may be surprised to
know that many people try to diagnose and
treat themselves without ever seeing a medical
professional. This can be risky for a variety of
reasons. One, you may misdiagnose yourself and
end up exacerbating the condition; two, you
may overlook a potentially serious condition;
and three, you may treat yourself incorrectly,
which can result in injury or, at the very least, no
improvement in your symptoms.
3. Where to Go for a Diagnosis
The best course of action to ensure
that you get an accurate,
professional diagnosis and are
prescribed an effective treatment
plan is to schedule a consultation
with your primary care physician.
While he or she may end up
referring you to a spine specialist
who has more experience treating
spondylolisthesis, your physician is
a good place to start.
4. The Diagnostic Process
All physicians approach the diagnostic process differently, but there are several common components
that you may encounter when you meet with your physician regarding a spondylolisthesis diagnosis.
These include:
• Physical examination – This may involve tests for strength, range of motion, and flexibility in
the spine. Your physician may also palpate your spine to check for areas of tenderness,
swelling, and inflammation. Palpation may also help the physician to determine the location
and approximate degree of vertebral slippage, if any exists.
• Review of symptoms – This is an extremely important part of the diagnostic process. Report all
of your symptoms in as much detail as possible, noting their location and severity. Be sure to
specify if your symptoms tend to remain localized or if they travel throughout the spine and
extremities. This could be an indication to your physician that neural compression is present.
• Review of medical history – Having a clear picture of both your personal and familial medical
history can help your physician determine if any past injuries, surgeries, preexisting conditions,
or a genetic predisposition may be contributing to your current symptoms.
• Medical imaging – Medical imaging scans like an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan may or may not be
necessary to confirm a diagnosis of spondylolisthesis. Your physician may order these tests to
determine the exact degree of vertebral slippage and whether nerve compression is present.
5. Starting Treatment
After your Diagnosis
While it may be disheartening and scary if your physician confirms a spondylolisthesis diagnosis,
the good news is that you can finally put a name to the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effectively treating your symptoms. Once
you talk with your physician about the condition and how he or she determined that
spondylolisthesis is the cause of your discomfort, you can work together to formulate an
appropriate treatment plan suited to your lifestyle and the severity of your condition.
Treatment will most likely begin conservatively (nonsurgically) and may include:
• Pain medication
• Physical therapy
• Behavior modification
• Ice packs and hot compresses
• Gentle stretches
• Low-impact exercise
• Corticosteroid injections
6. Spondylolisthesis Surgery
Most patients with a spondylolisthesis diagnosis are able to
manage their symptoms nonsurgically. However, there will be
rare cases in which the severity of vertebral slippage and/or
associated neural compression may not be treatable with
conservative therapies. If surgery does become an option for
you, the type of surgery for which you are a candidate will
largely depend on how far the vertebra has slipped out of place.
Severe structural instability due to slippage of 50 percent or
more is usually only treatable with an open spine surgery like
spinal fusion. In more mild cases where slight nerve compression
is present, minimally invasive laser spine surgery may be a viable
option.
