Spondylolysis: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

Spondylolysis is a spine condition that causes pain. It affects the connection between the bones that make up the spine (the vertebrae). If you have spondylolysis, you can have small cracks or stress fractures, especially after repeated injuries during sports. It is also called a pars defect, affecting a small spinal bone known as the pars interarticularis. It is prevalent among teenagers and kids who participate in sports such as football and gymnastics. Spondylolysis comes about when a problem affecting your spine causes a minor fracture or crack between two vertebrae. Although it causes back pain, you can have the condition treated by a Shrewsbury spondylosis specialist without surgical intervention. With early intervention, treatments such as physical therapy and medication show significant results, so you should see a doctor as soon as possible if you have any form of back pain for diagnosis and treatment.

Causes

If you develop spondylolysis, you have a weakness in a part of your vertebrae called the pars interarticularis. This tiny piece of bone forms a connection between different facet joints, which link the vertebrae below and above to create a working unit that facilitates the movement of the spine. 

Although the leading cause of the weakness in the spine remains unknown, medical experts believe that genes are a contributing factor. You may have thin vertebrae right from birth which makes you more susceptible to pars fractures. Trauma to the lower back can also cause the pars interarticularis to weaken.

Symptoms

In some cases, you may not experience any symptoms while suffering from spondylolysis. However, most patients experience low back pain that feels almost like a muscle strain spreading across the lower back. It gets worse with extension. Usually, symptoms appear during growth spurts, with most diagnosed cases ranging between 15 to16 years.

Treatment

Most spondylolysis specialists use non-surgical methods to treat the condition. Treatment may include physical therapy and activity modification medications. Although rare, you may need surgery.

The non-surgical treatments include rest, especially if you participate in sports or other strenuous activities. Your doctor may prescribe medications, including over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which can help reduce inflammation and pain. Depending on your condition, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications. You may also need steroid injections to the affected area to relieve pain. In some cases, you will have to work with the physical therapist to learn different exercises that can help you improve flexibility and strengthen your muscles to reduce pain during movement. In rare cases, healthcare providers recommend a back brace to add more stability to your spine as you recover from the condition.

Surgical intervention for this condition is rare since most patients recover through non-surgical treatments. However, you may need a pars repair surgery to fix the fracture without spinal fusion.

To summarize, spondylolysis refers to a condition that causes weakness in a part of your vertebrae known as pars interarticularis. It usually causes low back pain that feels like a muscle strain and gets worse with extension. A doctor can treat the condition without surgical intervention.

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