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spondylitic spondylolisthesis

  1. after suffering with my back for roughly 5 years . i virtually begged my doctor for an x tay . the findings were spondylitic spondylolisthesis . . the dramatic effect on my life and mobility is obvious , and i do not think that people realise this . from the moment i wake and stand upright , i experience intense stiffness aching , tingling and burning sensations from my lower back down into my legs . i can no longer stand for more than ten minutes ,before i completly seize up . i experience weakness and shaking of my legs . i think what is worse is that after all this time i was hoping that something could be done and that i could return back to my job as a florist . but with my job involving a lot of standing this is impossible . the only thing i have been offered is painkillers and a stronger anti inflamatory medication . the only thing that relives my back is bed rest , and if i were never to get out of bed again then i would be pain free . the quality of my life has been effected dramatically .

  2. I don.t know what grade you have but I have a grade 3 and have have similar symptoms as you. My left leg is twitching about like a mad thing under my laptop!! I also have problems on right side but not so severe. When I first had back probs in Dec 11 I mistook it for cystitis as my bladder started being erratic at the same time but 2 tests came back clear. I had no choice but plough through the pain. I work in retail and was the busiest time of the year. My gp advised my I had a lower back problem but I dismissed it as I am not a backpain person. I have dealt with a few back pain sufferers at work!! Any way I had an mri and its over50%( how gross!!!), I find pain both real and radicular does have a tendency to get worse with activity but can also get worse if resting too much. I find that a gentle amount of smooth motion helps stop stiffness and regular exercise will help overall health. Core work excecise bike and resistance leg work are beneficial in maintaining strength in some muscles that may be weakened esp thigh. Though at times you have to push, make use of the painkillers, you get used to them. I work fulltime on feet all day no chairs! I have just finished a 6 day(approx65 hrs)week I have modified some of my tasks like avoiding overhead work ect. But I am still earning as I wait for pars block with a view to fusion. I also take a lot of meds to keep active tramadol 400 ml cocodamol daily 50, amyitriptilline at night and diclofenac which is better than naproxen this concoction does help but still get a lot of breakthrough pain. Check out your options and at least try to see a physio, perhaps you need to bug your gp for this, failing that another gp!!I guess as you have had this for such a long time its tempting to give up but please don,t. I know what you mean about rest and quality of life though!! My son just pointed out theme park discounts but I doubt will never be able to do extreme rides again and that saddens me more than not having a social life and shopping in the sales anymore but force myself to gym at least once a week .I also miss not kicking things when angry! I'm just looking forward to the fusion.

    I guess it is not that common and gps ect are used to more minor back complaints and do not appreciate the severe effects a spondy can have. You must not get fobbed off and you need to be persistent!(I was discharged from physio after 4 weeks for strengthening my left leg slightly and sent me back to gp! I was apparently fasttracked through msk for mri) I am finding getting treatment a battle and very slow.

    I am 46 and not ready for the scrapheap yet and I guess nor are you. Good luck and keep hassling for a referral.

  3. I have grade 1 spondythesis and was diagnosed a year and a half ago after much pain and an MRI scan, since then I have stopped working due to the pain, I have had to surrender my driving licence to the dvla I didn't even know I had to but this condition is on their list, you HAVE to inform them if you have this and they WILL take your licence away from you !, if you don't inform them there are huge fines and other consequences. I have been through various pain killers etc, currently on 4000mg of co codamol per day, it doesn't completely take away the pain but helps, I too was offered the injections but after searching the net decided against it, I have the top back surgeon in Essex he talked about surgery & said he wouldn't suggest it until I was around 60 to 70 !, also I have again searched the net and seen so many bad reports after surgery I don't know if I would consider it. I am 52 years old this year and am now at home 24/7, am on disability for this, and cannot even drive anymore, I am in constant pain at varying levels but would rather be in pain but still able to walk than not at all, I feel sorry for anyone with spondythesis, if you are going the same route as me it took over a year and many medicals etc before my dla was sorted out so be prepared for the long haul. Even though I am disabled through this I am still required to work, I as anyone with this will know do not know how I am going to feel until the morning hence I work from home, I hope this is of interest to someone, my first posting so sorry for going on !

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