MMA Champion Cezar Ferreria 5 days after minimally invasive surgery for spondylolisthesis. (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) – Click Here to see more videos of Cezar
ABOUT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
Spondylolisthesis is a shift of one vertebrae on another. It occurs for various reasons that include a stress fracture or incomplete bone development involving the lower spinal segments. It may also develop over time as part of general aging. The instability, disc degeneration, and debris around that area can also cause radicular (nerve) pain – which is pain that is felt down one’s thighs or legs. If nerve compression progresses, the patient may feel numbness or even weakness.
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Physical therapy can be helpful for back pain, particularly when the pain is related to muscular insufficiency. It can also be helpful for arthritis. The success of therapy largely depends on the patients’ motivation and ability to follow through with a self directed exercise program and activity modifications.
Surgery for spine problems is never mandatory. Surgery is performed in situations where patients do not feel relief from conservative treatment and continue to have severe pain. Surgery allows the doctor to relieve nerve compression which in tern corrects nerve pain and stabilizes degenerated or unstable motion segments.
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When spinal instability (abnormal movement of the bones) or severe degeneration of the discs and/or joints exists, surgical fusion is needed to treat the underlying problem. Fusing the spine stops the abnormal motion and relieves the pain from instability. Fusion of the spine usually does not create any significant problems with stiffness or lack of mobility as patients get motion from the hip joints and other non fused segments of the spine
RELATED EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES
- Spondylolisthesis Article 1 [ Coming Soon ]
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