Spondylolysis is a common form of developed back pain. Learn more about what it is and how to treat it in this medical video clip.
Pain medication
Immobilize the back
Physical therapy
Dr. Valadka practices Neurosurgery in Houston, Texas. Dr. Alex Valadka graduated from the University of Pritzker School of Med with an MD and he has been in the profession for 21 years.
DR. ALEX VALADKA: Today, we're going to talk about spondylolysis. It's a very funny word. Actually, it has two parts. Spondylo refers to the spine; lysis refers to a splitting or an area where the bones aren't completely formed. In some small children, they're born with a spondylolysis, but more commonly it develops as we get older. Let me show you exactly what we're talking about here in the model of the spine. Most commonly, it's in bones at the very bottom of the spine. And if you see here and here, these are two joints. In between them is the area in between the joints and this is where there tends to be a line indicating a non-fusion of that part of the spine. Certain athletes may be more predisposed to this, especially people like offensive/defensive linemen in football and weightlifters who have to bear a large load, but it can happen to anyone and certain types of it may be more common as we get older. Oftentimes, this first presents with low back pain maybe anywhere from the back down to the upper buttocks and even the upper thighs. In the majority of cases, it's just rest if there's a particular condition that's causing this, perhaps some pain medication can deal with it. More rarely, you need to progress to bracing or some type of immobilization. And in general, the symptoms resolve. Now, in more severe or long-standing cases, the defect in the bones can be severe enough that it actually cause one vertebrae to slip forward on another and that can put pressure on your nerves and cause back pain that's so severe that surgery may be an option but fortunately that represents only a minority of cases. In general, physical therapy to help strengthen the muscles so the muscles can take some of the load off the spine. It's good both as a way to prevent this condition and as a treatment.
