Midtown Manhattan 36 W 44th St Ste 1416 New York, NY 10036

Spondylolisthesis Treatment

Spondylolisthesis treatment may just consist of rest and avoiding certain activities. But if your case is severe enough, treatment for spondylolisthesis also may mean surgery to relieve your back pain. Our sports injury and pain management team know how to treat spondylolisthesis effectively so you can live pain-free. Come to our sports injury and pain management clinic to get your pain evaluation and treatment. Meet our pain doctor Febin Melepura M.D. to get the pain relief you need in the safe, reassuring hands of the best back specialists in NYC.

Spondylolisthesis TreatmentIf one of your vertebrae begins to slide in front of the bone below it, the condition that results is called spondylolisthesis. This is most common in your lower back, in what doctors call your lumbosacral area. When this happens, it can really put a squeeze on your spinal cord and nerve roots.

It’s important to have any back pain or discomfort diagnosed by your sports and pain doctors as soon as you can. This condition can get serious fast and lead to:

  • Weakness or numbness in one or both legs
  • Loss of bladder and bowel control

It’s possible to not have any symptoms at all when a vertebra slips. Or it could take years before you experience your first symptom. But if you suddenly become incontinent, you need to seek medical help immediately. At that point, it’s common to notice pain in your back and buttocks. Your leg muscles may feel tight or weak. And you may even develop a limp.

Causes of Spondylolysis

The bones of your spine connect at several small joints. Discs keep your bones lined up and also help them move and function as they should. If you experience any problems with one of those small joints in your spine, especially if it causes a bone to move out of place, you may need spondylolisthesis treatment n NYC.

This condition affects children, adolescents and young adults involved in sports — especially sports that require repetitive overuse since they can lead to stress fractures in your vertebrae. Some of the small joint issues that can lead to spondylolisthesis include:
  • Congenital birth defects
  • Trauma to your joint, resulting from accident or injury
  • Stress fracture to your joint due to overuse
  • Joint damaged by arthritis or infection

Aging and wear and tear may cause stress fractures that produce spondylolisthesis in older adults. And while stress fractures are frequently to blame for spondylolisthesis, it can show up without them too. When your discs and joints are worn down and begin to slip out of place, it can also result in spondylolisthesis.

I saw many doctors before visiting Dr. Melepura and i was so happy when i finally did. I have never met a back pain doctor who listens like he does. He and his staff were completely fantastic and i cannot recommend him any moe highly!!

Krishna Potluri

Symptoms That Lead to Treatment for Spondylolisthesis

Since you can have spondylolisthesis and go years without your first symptom, it can delay you from seeking medical attention to fix your problem. In fact, you may never have any symptoms at all. However, if you do have symptoms, they can include:

  • Pain in your back or buttocks
  • Pain that runs or shoots from your lower back down the length of one or both legs
  • Weakness or numbness in one or both legs
  • Pain or difficulty walking
  • Any pain in your legs, back or buttocks that gets worse when you bend or twist
  • Rare cases of incontinence

X-rays of your back are one of the most useful tools to diagnose spondylolisthesis. Your physician typically takes a series of x-rays if he suspects you’ve got spondylolisthesis. These indicate if there are any fractures or cracks in your vertebrae, or if any of your discs have slipped out of place. Any of these are capable of causing your spondylolisthesis.

How to Treat Spondylolisthesis

The first step in spondylolisthesis treatment is to stop any physical activities that may have caused your vertebrae damage. Treatment for spondylolisthesis may include non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin. Always consult your NYC sports medicine team about how to treat spondylolisthesis with NSAIDs.

Physical therapy to build up your core and back muscles is often helpful. But if you’re overweight, your Midtown Manhattan doctor may recommend healthy, supervised weight loss. More severe cases may call for surgical spondylolisthesis treatment. This can mean that:

  • Your pain is extreme
  • Your bones are continuing to move
  • There is nerve root or spinal damage

Surgical Options

Surgical treatment for spondylolisthesis can remove bone and other tissues that are putting pressure on your nerves or spinal cord. This is called decompression. Surgery may also be performed to fuse your bones into position.

In the most severe cases, it may be necessary to perform both procedures during the same surgery to treat your pain. You may need to wear a brace or cast for a while following these procedures. Physical therapy and rehabilitation help to strengthen your muscles and regain your function. This makes movement easier and recovery faster.

Taking the time to consult the leading professionals in the field can save you years of pain and difficulty down the road. You have a team of New York City sports and pain specialists ready and capable of improving your quality of life. Sitting around in pain doesn’t have to be what you have to look forward to in life.

Do you have any questions about the spondylolisthesis treatment we offer in NYC? Would you like to schedule an appointment with the best-rated back pain management doctor Febin Melepura MD of sports pain management and NYC injury clinic? Please contact our office for a consultation with the pain relief specialist in Midtown Manhattan.

Page Updated on Oct 31, 2022 by Dr. Melepura (Pain Management Doctor) of Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic of New York Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic of New York
36 W 44th St #1416
New York, NY 10036
(212) 621-7746
Sports Injury and Pain Management Doctor NYC - Febin Melepura, MD

Febin Melepura, MD is a top rated, best in class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award winning expert and contributor to a prominent media outlets.

Dr. Febin Melepura has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain and, among other accolades, has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York”, and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for an advanced sports injury treatments.

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