What is lumbar spondylolisthesis The lumbar vertebrae of a normal person are neatly aligned. If, due to congenital or acquired reasons, one of the lumbar vertebrae slips forward relative to the adjacent lumbar vertebrae, it is called lumbar spondylolisthesis. After the occurrence of lumbar spine slippage, the patient may not have any symptoms, only found when it is photographed; or there may be various related symptoms, such as back pain, lower limb pain, numbness, weakness, and in severe cases, abnormal urination and defecation. Patients with more severe slippage may experience lumbar depression, abdominal protrusion, or even trunk shortening and swaying when walking. Why does lumbar spondylolisthesis occur. The cause of lumbar spondylolisthesis can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired, occurring in childhood or later. It is primarily caused by excessive mechanical stress of various kinds, and contributing factors include lifting heavy objects, weight lifting, soccer, sports training, trauma, wear and tear. There is also a type of lumbar spondylolisthesis that is degenerative, that is, structural abnormalities occur due to the aging of various structures of the lumbar spine, usually occurring after the age of 50, and this type of spondylolisthesis is usually accompanied by lumbar spinal stenosis and requires surgery. How to do if you have lumbar spondylolisthesis 1, conservative treatment If the lumbar spondylolisthesis is not significantly aggravated, you can take conservative treatment and regularly review the lumbar spine X-ray to understand the slippage. If there is lumbar pain and leg discomfort, the symptoms can usually be relieved after rest. Conservative treatment includes bed rest for 2-3 days, prohibition of activities that increase the weight-bearing of the lumbar region, such as lifting heavy objects and bending over, combined with physical therapy such as infrared and heat therapy, and oral anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs such as ibuprofen and fen-phen, but to prevent the side effects of drugs on the stomach. In addition, you can also wear a lumbar girth and brace. A professional orthopedist will measure for you or take a mold with a cast, and then make a very snug brace according to the model, which can reduce the burden of the waist and relieve the symptoms after wearing. 2.Surgical treatment If patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis have neurological symptoms, and the symptoms are not significantly relieved by regular conservative treatment, and still have long-term lumbar pain and other concomitant symptoms of spondylolisthesis, that is, conservative treatment is ineffective and seriously affects life and work, they should consider surgical treatment. There are various surgical methods for lumbar spondylolisthesis, and the doctor will choose the appropriate surgical plan according to the patient’s condition. For example, posterior slippage repositioning, internal fixation of the pedicle screw, and intervertebral implant fusion. The principle is to first reset the slipped vertebrae by certain methods, and then fuse the adjacent lumbar vertebrae to prevent further slippage and restore the stability of the lumbar spine. If there are symptoms of nerve root compression, decompression of the nerve root canal and spinal canal is also required to eliminate the pain and numbness of the lower limbs caused by lumbar spondylolisthesis. How to recover from lumbar spondylolisthesis Whether you take conservative treatment or surgical treatment, it is very important that you must follow the requirements directed by your doctor. It is important to avoid lifting heavy objects, bending or strenuous sports such as soccer, high-intensity training (running, aerobics), etc. as much as possible. If there are doubts about whether there are restrictions on the occupation or recreational activities to be engaged in, always consult your doctor who can provide sound advice so as to prevent the recurrence of back pain attacks. Also, it is important to maintain a proper weight, get proper exercise, and learn how to properly pick up objects off the floor and similar actions of daily living.