Spondylolisthesis is a condition where the vertebrae above another vertebrae slips anterior or forward. This happens the most in the lumbar spine, but can also happen in other areas of the spine. Isthmic spondylolisthesis is the most common and this usually happens early in life between the ages of 5 and 15. There is also degenerative, traumatic, pathologic, and dysplastic. The grades vary from 1-4 with grade 4 being the most severe. Because the bone is slipped forward it can put a lot of stress on the discs and facet joints and cause pain. This is when people turn to their Doctor in search of treatment options. One treatment option is steroid shots.
Are steroid shots the best treatment option for lumbar spondylolisthesis? This might not be the best if you think about what the shots do. They are cortisone shots, which is a very powerful anti-inflammatory treatment. The are injected at the area of pain and the area has to be sterile and clean to reduce the risk of infection, which is a possibility. Most Doctors recommend no more than 3 over the period of a year. Why would this be? Cortisone can weaken ligaments and tendons. This is something that you will want to ponder before getting this done if you have spondylolisthesis. It does not make much sense to put something into your back with a needle that could soften the ligaments and tendons that hold the spine in place. The vertebrae is already slipping forward, this could only cause it to possibly slip more forward? Please discuss this topic, do your research, and look at other alternative options available. Non-Surgical spinal decompression therapy has been proven to be successful and reducing the pressure within the disc and facet joints. If the slippage of the vertebrae is not too far, it might be an excellent option.
