High-Quality Comprehensive Help for Slipped Vertebrae
EmergeOrtho’s highly specialized team creates the best possible treatment plan for each individual patient. Our team includes board-certified physicians who are leaders in the nonsurgical and surgical management of pain arising from a slipped vertebrae or spondylolisthesis. In addition, some of our physicians have received extensive fellowship training in interventional spine injections.
What is spondylolisthesis?
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra moves forward over the one below it, and it is a common cause of leg and lower back pain in adults. Spondylolisthesis is the medical term for a slipped vertebra or slipped disc. If the vertebra has slipped too much, it could press on a nerve or the vertebra below it, causing pain in the back and/or leg(s), which can be intense.
Causes of a slipped disc
There are several different causes of spondylolisthesis. These include:
- Congenital abnormal bone formation — meaning the condition has been present since birth
- An overuse injury
- Arthritis
- Disc and ligamentous (connective tissue) degeneration, which often occurs with age
- Spinal fracture or traumatic injury
- Tumors or other diseases that weaken or damage the spine.
Symptoms of a slipped vertebra
Often, there are no symptoms at all. However, if symptoms do appear, they often include:
- Lower pack pain
- Muscle spasms
- Tight hamstrings (due to muscle spasms)
- Pain that may spread down the leg to the foot
- Tingling or numbness in the leg and/or foot
- Weakness in the leg(s) or feet
Treatment for spondylolisthesis
There are several treatment options for spondylolisthesis. We will work with you to help determine which one is right for you.
Treatments include:
- Over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory pain medication
- Rest
- Utilization of a back brace
- Physical therapy / stabilization exercises
- Use of image-guided, targeted injections
While surgery is also used to treat a slipped disc, we will only consider surgery if nonsurgical treatments have failed.
In many cases, minimally invasive treatments can be utilized to correct the problem surgically.
Our state-of-the-art medical treatment has a long history of success. We’re dedicated to utilizing the most advanced, innovative treatments available while perfecting current methods for managing chronic back pain. It’s this expertise and uncompromising quality that has made EmergeOrtho a leader in the field of orthopedics for decades. See why we’re the provider of choice for thousands of patients across North Carolina.