Cervical Spondylolisthesis is a Rare But Painful Condition

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Cervical Spondylolisthesis is a Rare But Painful Condition

Cervical spondylolisthesis is not often the cause of neck pain, but when it is, the impact on a sufferer’s life can be huge. The pain can restrict movement and make simple activities like sleeping uncomfortable. Most of the time, it’s the degeneration of discs between the cervical vertebrae that cause the condition. As a disc wears away, flattens or shrinks, it offers less support to the vertebrae beneath or above it, allowing them to shift. This can happen anywhere in the spinal column, but when a neck vertebra shifts onto the one beneath it, it’s called cervical spondylolisthesis. In many instances, the condition causes no pain, but if the dislodged vertebra sandwiches a nerve between itself and the vertebra below it, the symptoms can be excruciating. When this occurs, a doctor will often prescribe over the counter pain medication, restriction of certain activities, special exercises, physical therapy, or other non-invasive treatments. If those are not effective in reducing pain, physicians sometimes recommend therapy.

Traditionally, spinal fusion is used to treat cervical spondylolisthesis when surgery is necessary. However, because spinal fusion is an invasive surgery, it comes with the risks such as infection and others associated with hospitalization, general anesthesia, and large incisions. Spinal fusion patients also run the risk that their body will reject the bone graft used during the procedure, or that the fusion will cause back pain in other parts of the spine. Fortunately there are alternatives to spinal fusion. Cervical spondylolisthesis symptoms can, in some cases, be treated with endoscopic surgery, which is offered by Laser Spine Institute. This type of procedure is superior to traditional fusion surgery because it comes with far fewer risks, a quicker recovery and a high rate of success.

If you’d like to learn more about the cervical spondylolisthesis procedures we offer, contact Laser Spine Institute today. We’ll review your CT scan or MRI for free.

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