Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis is when a bone (vertebra) in your spine slips out of position and causes pressure on the nerves in the spinal canal which connect your brain and your body. This can cause pain, numbness and weakness, usually in your lower back and legs.

Spondylolisthesis is most common in your lower back and might cause these symptoms:

• Lower back pain which may get worse during activity
• Pain, numbness or pins and needles down your legs (these symptoms are known as sciatica)
• Tight hamstrings
• Stiff back
• Curvature or bulging of the spine

If you have difficulty walking and feel unsteady on your feet, this may also be a sign.

It's possible to have spondylolisthesis without any of these symptoms.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

They'll examine your back and also your limbs to see the amount of movement and pain you have.

You may need an X-ray, MRI scan or CT scan to see if there's a slipped vertebra in your spine which is compressing a nerve.

There are different causes of spondylolisthesis:

• Gradual wear and tear of the vertabrae and cartilage (osteoarthritis) - more common in older people
• Repetitive trauma, such as heavy weight lifting or gymnastics
• A sudden injury, such as a fracture from a car accident
• An infection or tumour
• A birth defect in a vertebra

If you're experiencing pain which is affecting your daily life, the recommended treatments are usually:

• Painkillers
• Physiotherapy
• Bracing, usually only for children
• Facet joint injections to relieve inflammation and pain
• Back surgery

Your doctor will usually only recommend surgery after other treatments have been unsuccessful. This could be decompression surgery to remove part of your spine to relieve pressure, or fusion of two vertebrae together to keep the slipped vertebra in place.