Spondylolisthesis or known as slipped disc is quite a painful spinal condition. It is a forward slip of vertebrae to its adjacent vertebra below. It often strikes in the lower back and is often as result from the normal aging process, birth defects and sports injury. Pain is sometimes found in the area of the slippage although it can also cause tingling and numbness and even weakness in the extremities.
There are two leading kinds of Spondylolisthesis and that is acquired Spondylolisthesis which is common in elderly patients and this can be cause by sudden injury or repetitive motions. The other kind is developmental Spondylolisthesis which happens during childhood but may not show up until later in life. This condition strikes more men than women. In fact it affects six percent of men and up to three percent of women. It is common to children ages nine to fourteen years, in athletes or anyone involved in strenuous activities.
Spondylolisthesis grade 1 is the less serious version of Spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is actually graded according on how severe it is. It is graded from grade 1 being the least severe to grade 5 as the most severe. When you say grade 1 it means slippage is at 25%.
What are the symptoms of grade 1 Spondylolisthesis? Most people who have grade 1 Spondylolisthesis do not experience any symptoms at all. If symptoms do shows, it is usually mild and it usually includes back stiffness, pain or numbness in the legs, post-exercise back pain and loss of bladder or bowel control.
How is grade 1 Spondylolisthesis diagnosed? The best way to diagnose this condition is through MRI and CT scans. This imaging device will allow your doctor to see the exact location of the slippage and the degree of severity. As for treatment, pain is usually managed with some medications and bed rest to be followed by physical therapy.
Spondylolisthesis grade 1 seldom needs surgery for treatment. As mentioned in one study, the most common treatment for Spondylolisthesis grade 1 is non-operative in nature which might include therapeutic exercise, activity limitation and bracing. This can be use alone or in combination. So far the result showed that 83.9% of patients treated cooperatively has successful clinical outcome at least one year (J Pediatr Orthop 2009).