Home
Welcome Page
Back Pain Blog
My Book
My Story
YOUR STORIES Q and A
Q and A Archive
Interactive Forum
PAIN Back Pain
Types of BackPain
Acute Back Pain
Chronic Back Pain
Low Back Pain
Neck Pain
Muscle Pain
Coccyx Pain
Sacroiliac Pain
Thoracic Outlet
DIAGNOSES Herniated Discs
Sciatica
Disc Disease
Pinched Nerve
Spinal Stenosis
Osteoarthritis
Facet Syndrome
Scoliosis
Lordosis Kyphosis
Spondylolisthesis
Osteoporosis
Piriformis Pain
Spinal Cord Injury
Spina Bifida
Combination Pain
WOMEN Womens BackPain
Pregnancy Pain
Fibromyalgia
MIND & BODY Psychosomatic
Tension Myositis
Emotional Effects
Pain Syndromes
TREATMENTS Treatments
Back Pain Drugs
Back Surgery
Decompression
Chiropractic
Back Exercises
Back Pain Diet
Backpain Products
Knowledge
RECOVERY Back Pain Relief
Back Injury
Pain Epidemic
Recovery
Back Pain Doctors
Doctor Directory
Anatomy
RESOURCES Back Pain Survey
Contact Me
Search the Site
About C-B-P.ORG
Site Map
Advertising Info
Health Links
Donate
Facebook

[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

back pain

Retrolisthesis

Retrolisthesis is the exact opposite of a spondylolisthesis condition and is sometimes even known by the diagnostic term retrospondylolisthesis. This spinal abnormality describes a condition in which one or more vertebral bones move out of alignment with the bones above, and/or below, towards the rear of the body. In essence, this disorder is demonstrated by a posterior vertebral shift at one or more levels. Vertebral slippage is easily diagnosed on any of the various forms of diagnostic imaging, but is best seen using MRI technology.

What is Retrolisthesis?

Retrolisthesis Retrospondylolisthesis is a spinal bone misalignment condition. It is relatively common and not known to usually produce pain or neurological symptoms in mild and moderate cases. Like its close relative, spondylolisthesis, the condition is rated in terms of severity using a percentile scale:

Grade 1 is described as 1% to 24% vertebral misalignment.

Grade 2 is described as 25% to 49% vertebral misalignment.

Grade 3 is described as 50% to 74% vertebral misalignment.

Grade 4 is described as 75% or more vertebral misalignment.


Retrospondylolisthesis Facts

Retrospondylolisthesis takes 3 primary forms:

* Complete: is described as a single level which is out of alignment with the vertebral bones above and below. This is the most common form.

* Stairstepped is described as multiple vertebrae out of alignment, each slightly further out of place when compared to the vertebra above it, forming a progressive stair-like effect.

* Partial describes a tilting posterior misalignment in which the slipped vertebrae is out of alignment with only the vertebrae above OR below, but not both.

The vast majority of cases fall in the Grade 1 or 2 categories and should not be symptomatic at all. However, some cases obviously act as scapegoats on which back pan is mistakenly blamed. Of course, severe and extreme forms of the condition can create pain, nerve compression issues and even spinal instability.

Retrolisthesis Advice

In most cases, retrospondylolisthesis is nothing to fear. It can be a congenital or developmental defect, the result of back injury or simply part of normal spinal aging. It is most common in the neck, followed by the lumbar spine and only rarely exists in the thoracic spinal region. Regardless where the issue exists in the spine, symptoms are not likely unless the slippage is severe. If you have mild to moderate retrospondylolisthesis which has been targeted as the source of chronic back pain and not responded well to treatment, I urge you to reconsider the validity of the diagnostic theory. At the very least, get a second opinion from an objective source who is qualified to diagnose spinal misalignment conditions.

Retrolisthesis to Back Pain Home 1/25/10


footer for retrolisthesis page