:confused: Hi everyone....just thought I'd ask for some advice. I was diagnosed with grade 4 spondy about a year ago and here's what my latest MRI says....


Anterior spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1. These findings results in moderate narrowing of the thecal sac and bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

Diffuse annular disc bulge at L4-5 with mild neural foraminal narrowing.

Can anyone explain this to me? I've seen 2 neurosurgeons and have been told by both what a rare case I am. I have an 80% slip...which not many surgeons have experience with. I'm just feeling frustrated at this point. I don't want to have surgery, but know that I have to. But what do you do when no one has the experience to do it????? Anyone else have this trouble? I have had numbness and tingling in both legs, and extreme weakness. HELP

Where are you? Find a fellowship trained orthopedic spine surgeon. You need a specialist.
fly

Hi fly...I'm in the south east. I've been told that ortho's not the way to go...neuro's are...but I haven't had any luck with either. I've seen an ortho and 2 neuros...but apparently the surgery will require some extreme specialization???? that most don't have. I'm just stuck in the middle falling apart (literally) :0)

Go to spine.org and find someone with a fellowship. I found out after the fact that my surgeon is up there. They're cutting-edge. My OSS was only 39 and he fixed me good in PA. And I was 63. Sounds like you need a laminectomy, too. I had a neuro tell me I wasn't in enough pain and he couldn't do/didn't know anything about my leg problem. He said I would be worse off if/when I had surgery. I will never go back to another neuro.
fly

Thanks fly, I'll be sure to chk out the website.....Glad to hear you're all fixed up!! That must mean there's hope for me yet :)

:confused: Hi everyone....just thought I'd ask for some advice. I was diagnosed with grade 4 spondy about a year ago and here's what my latest MRI says....


Anterior spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1. These findings results in moderate narrowing of the thecal sac and bilateral neural foraminal stenosis.

Diffuse annular disc bulge at L4-5 with mild neural foraminal narrowing.

Can anyone explain this to me? I've seen 2 neurosurgeons and have been told by both what a rare case I am. I have an 80% slip...which not many surgeons have experience with. I'm just feeling frustrated at this point. I don't want to have surgery, but know that I have to. But what do you do when no one has the experience to do it????? Anyone else have this trouble? I have had numbness and tingling in both legs, and extreme weakness. HELP


It doesn't matter whether you go to a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon as long as they have a fellowship in spinal surgery. Get a few opinions and go with the one that you are most comfortable with.

My son is have a 2 level surgery for grade 2-3 spondylolisthesis this Thursday (April 14). He didn't want to do it either but finally gave in. He was sick of being in pain.

Other physicians (who had no ax to grind) said that spondylolisthesis is one of the most successful of all spinal surgerieies.

We'll soon see this week.

Bobi