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Spondylolisthesis
What is Spondylolisthesis?
If you suffer from migraine headaches, you’re not alone. About Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one of the bones of the spine (vertebrae) slips out of place onto the vertebra below it. If it slips too much, the bone might press on a nerve, causing pain. Usually, the bones of the lower back are affected. The word spondylolisthesis comes from the Greek words spondylos, which means “spine” or “vertebra,” and listhesis, which means “to slip or slide.”
Tired of living with painful spondylolisthesis? Start improving your health by contacting our Crystal Lake staff to begin your spondylolisthesis treatment today.
12 percent of the U.S. population gets them. Migraines are extremely painful, recurring headaches that are sometimes accompanied by other symptoms such as visual disturbances or nausea. There are two types of migraine headaches- migraine with aura, formerly called common migraines and migraines without aura, formerly called classic migraines. Migraine headaches are three times more common in women than are in men.
Stop dealing with the painful symptoms of migraine headaches and let our Crystal Lake chiropractors work their magic by contacting us today.
Many people with spondylolisthesis have no symptoms and don’t even know they have the condition. When symptoms do occur, low back pain is the most common. The pain usually spreads across the lower back, and might feel like a muscle strain.
Spondylolisthesis can also cause muscle spasms in the hamstring muscles in the back of the thighs. Tight hamstrings can cause the person to walk with short strides and with the knees slightly bent. If the slipped vertebra is pressing on a nerve, pain might spread down the leg to the foot. The foot might also tingle and/or feel numb.
The bones in your spine come together at several small joints that keep the bones lined up while still allowing them to move. Spondylolisthesis is caused by a problem with one or more of these small joints that allows one bone to move out of line.
Spondylolisthesis may be caused by any of a number of problems with the small joints in your back. You could have:
- A defective joint that you’ve had since birth (congenital).
- A joint damaged by an accident or other trauma.
- A vertebra with a stress fracture caused from overuse of the joint.
- A joint damaged by an infection or arthritis.
Spondylolisthesis affects children and teens involved in sports. Some sports, such as gymnastics or weight lifting, can overuse back bones to the point of causing stress fractures in vertebrae, which can result in spondylolisthesis.
Older adults can develop spondylolisthesis, because wear and tear on the back leads to stress fractures. It can also occur without stress fractures when the disc and joints are worn down and slip out of place.
At Strelcheck chiropractic clinic we have a dedicated team of doctors and chiropractors that will take a comprehensive medical history and physical examination in order to better understand your individual case of spondylolisthesis. After the exam, X-rays will be taken in order to further evaluate the presence and extent of the slippage of the vertebra. Your treatment plan is personalized based on your symptoms.
Therapeutic exercises are also an important part of chiropractic care for spondylolisthesis. Your chiropractor will prescribe specific exercises to help promote stability. Corrective spinal care and exercises can help minimize hyperlordosis and also help address inflammation and pain caused by spondylolisthesis.
