Spondylolisthesis: Check out Chiropractic Care
Spondylolisthesis. It’s one of those big back pain condition words that demands some practice to articulate, and one of those spinal conditions that chiropractic can skillfully help in diagnosing, managing, treating, and referring as necessary for other forms of treatment or testing. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers knows that the gentler the treatment, the better the outcome; the more stable the spondylolisthesis, the more receptive to conservative care. Some of the more recent studies on this spinal condition offer hope for pain relief to those in Baton Rouge with spondylolisthesis.
WHAT SPONDYLOLISTHESIS IS
A spinal condition that happens when one vertebral body (one of the spinal bones) slips forward or backward on the adjacent vertebral body resulting in back and/or leg pain, spondylolisthesis isn’t all that uncommon. About 20% of the adult population experiences it. Low back pain is its companion. Degenerative spondylolisthesis is most often seen at the L4/5 lumbar spine level in adulthood. Non-degenerative spondylolisthesis usually affects the L5/S1 level. (1) Researchers analyzed the natural history of degenerative spondylolisthesis and its related slippage by looking through published studies. They discovered that over 4 to 25 years, 12% to 20% developed degenerative spondylolisthesis while 12%-34% of existing degenerative spondylolisthesis progressed. It’s valuable to note that 2/3 of spondylolisthesis patients’ slips didn’t progress. (2) Non-progressing is good! Even degenerative is good as it often responds to care. Your Baton Rouge chiropractor is ready to help with Baton Rouge spondylolisthesis!
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OF SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
In our Baton Rouge chiropractic clinic, spondylolisthesis is treated with the conservative, non-surgical Cox® Technic System. Published studies, case reports, and clinical data have shown treatment outcomes. In a case study of a patient with both an extruded L4/5 disc herniation and a spondylolytic spondylolisthesis at L5/S1, pain was documented to decrease from a 9 to 1 on a 10 point scale in just 9 visits over 4 weeks of care. At 10 years follow up, the patient stayed stable. (3) In another case report of a US Marine Veteran, the patient reported a 25% reduction in pain and 22% decrease in disability in 10 treatments over 2 months leading the researchers to conclude that this care may well be a safe and effective approach. (4) Then, in the 1000 cases study with data from 31 different chiropractic clinics, L4/5 spondylolisthesis took more visits and time than L5/S1 spondylolisthesis to experience maximal clinical improvement. The mean number of days to maximal improvement was 29 days and 12 visits regardless of the condition. In general, 95% of spondylolisthesis patients had maximal clinical improvement in less than 90 days. The gentler the treatment the better with spondylolisthesis. (5) Bracing spondylolisthesis (and other chronic spinal conditions like spondylosis and degenerated disc) is a typical component of the non-surgical, conservative treatment plan to enhance function and lessen pain. (6) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers will share the complete treatment plan – nutrition, exercise, bracing, treatment - with you.
CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis using The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Whether you can say spondylolisthesis or not, be sure to make your Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment soon get relief!
