Just to update, the doctor didn’t feel the subluxation was significant. Rather, my facet joint disease and degenerative disc disease is the bigger problem. Wheeeeeeeeee.
So while I do not share this condition with you all, I do understand and empathize. I will say riding my horse at a walk the other day was a big help with some pain and spasms I was having. 
[QUOTE=Mukluk;7624619]
… From what I can gather- if the spine had to be stabilized, fusion would be better than hardware (more sturdy) A friend of mine also has this condition and has found some relief with chiro but is planning for surgery.[/QUOTE]
As a researcher/scientist/professor in the Spine Division at CU School of Medicine, I hate to say that ANY and EVERY fusion requires instrumentation (publishing a book chapter in the medical texts on this very idea). The hardware is required to stabilize the spine to ENABLE fusion to occur.
Thanks for the info Rayers.
Sorry to hear your hubby is dealing with this. I have this and know many people who also do. It is fairly common in Ehlers Danlos Syndrome patients, especially the hypermobility form I have.
What has helped me:
Fast forward 15 years and an Ehlers Danlos diagnosis finally explained that event.
A GOOD PT or chiro who specializes in Spinal Rehab. They are rare gems and not easy to find but worth their weight in gold. Not all PT is created equal. Some people have a true gift to heal.
Epsom salt baths. Our muscles work overtime trying to stabilize a hugely important part of the body. It SHOULD be stable but for us it is not. Sooo… muscles work non stop to do the work ligaments and tendons and naturally fused pieces should. I buy my “magnesium sulfate” in bulk at the feed mill. 2 cups in a warm bath before bed almost daily. The muscles are almost always Mg deficient and blood tests don’t reveal Mg levels IN muscle.
A recumbent trike. This type of bike was not cheap BUT it is suitable for me and my multiple disabilities. I can no longer ride any sort of upright bike. Being able to get out and exercise on my trike (short and slow rides) has rebuilt some lost muscle on my entirely numb left leg for the first time in 20 years. That muscle has helped other issues including my back.
Avoiding surgery until absolutely left with no other option. I had a tethered spinal cord and MAJOR nerve issues in both legs. I put off the L4/5/S1hemilaminectomy until I had NOTHING to lose except my life. My best hope was to STOP the progression of issues. I understood I may end up paralyzed but with my loss of use of legs I was headed that way to being in my chair full time within a year anyway.
Those spaces subsequently collapsed after surgery BTW due to their already unstable nature, herniated, and dedicated discs. Still… I have more function and less pain than before surgery.
The spine rehab specialists I see have saved me from surgery on my cervical spine so far when almost everyone I know with my issues has been fused from skull to C2 and then subsequently C5/6 because of extra wear and tear to that area after fusion.
Fusion in my mind should be a last option because it cannot be undone. It also seems to have a tendency to transfer the load bearing and instability to surrounding vertebra. I would urge you and ypur husband to exhaust ALL options before fusion. In my case that includes two trips a year to Baltimore to see the two leading experts on my Ehlers Danlos and the neurological issues it causes. Ironically, I see my neurosurgeon twice a year to AVOID surgeries.
Best of luck to you both. Oh, my other life saver is the 2’ x 3’ infrared heating pad made by Venture Heat. I sleep with it on low across my lower back and hips most of the year and after two weeks I see improvement in my neuro pain and after 4 weeks of use I often am damn near free of certain types of neuro pain. (Trust me o know what a bitch neuro pain is. Nobody likes having hot pokers jammed in their nervous system. At least that’s what it feels like to me.)
2nd opinion for the “don’t ride doctor”!!
Don’t know if my picture will come through or not, showing my 2 level S1/L5/L4 fusion with hardware. My slip was 82%.
I ride endurance. I had to re-learn how to post/engage my core a little differently, but so far I’ve had no problems. I’ve completed 5 50’s since my surgery.
I did all of the non-invasive for 3 years before committing to surgery, however nothing worked. My doc was an ortho, as the top neuro-surgeon from Barrows said my slip was too complex for him and referred me to the ortho I used. Who happened to be familiar with endurance riding and said I’d be fine once the fusion occurred. He was right and it’s been a God-send.
Good luck!
I also have a mild form of spondylolisthesis, I agree with all the above posts, second opinions, core strength, chiro ( a GOOD one - do your research here! ). Consider having a occupational therapist come to your home and office (some insurance companies cover this) and have them assess your work/sleep/life stations. Things as simple as a professional set of orthotics, proper mattress’ and a well set up work station can make all the difference! All the best!
[QUOTE=Mukluk;7622541]
Thanks to the both of you. I am hoping that things will improve. 2 weeks of PT did not seem to make a difference but there is likely more that can be done. We are hoping for the best.[/QUOTE]
No, two YEARS of Pt, plus yoga, plus daily work, whatever PT recommends, such as swimmng laps (or not) or gym work, and walking, running, whatever is recommended. Two Years, not two weeks, and you can begin to see permanent changes.
I also know people who have had the fusion, had just a fusion, had a fusion plus instrumentation, and are in fantastic form now, and glad they did it. It depends on the severity and type of the problem, plus your surgeon, plus your own research and decisions. For example, my ex did not have instrumentation, but he did have decompression surgery. He did not have a fusion, and I have often thought that some fusion would have helped him a bit more than just the decompression. So you have to look at the whole picture and decide. For me, I would do as much as I could to get really strong and then decide on a bit of surgery if needed. Everyone’s situation is different, but its amazing how much can be accomplished with physical therapy.
Try not to use the brace too much, it tends to weaken the muscles. I didn’t like it because it made my muscles too soft and increased the pain.
Thanks all. Had one epidural that helped a little. Tried Celebrex (sample) and that helped. At first insurance wouldn’t cover it but since alternative did not work, It has been approved. Doc recommended a second epidural that will be on Monday. No Celebrex or other such meds until after the shot. Very anxious to get back on Celebrex after the shot. Then a week from Tuesday, we are seeing the specialist up at Stanford. Hubby tried to ride last weekend but it did not work out too well- foot numbness moving up leg and pain in hip.
Is this the same thing as Ankylosing spondylitis?
myblackmorgan3, no, spondylolisthesis is not the same as Ank Spond.
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