Question
My husband had cervical fusion of the C5-C6 vertibra almost 5 months ago. After the surgery, he kept telling the surgeon his lower back was killing him. He told the doctor that using his lower back for everything and something was wrong. The surgeon told him that it was probably just the muscles from not using them. We finally had a mri this week and it says: Grade 1 spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with probable rt L5 spondylolysis and Intervertebral osteochondrosis at L5-S1 with posterior and lt posterolateral annular bulge, and bilateral L5-S1 foraminal stenosis. My question is, could his back have gotten like this due to only using his lower back for so long after the surgery? His back didn't start giving him problems until about 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.

Answer
Jackie,
I am about to tell you two things that you probably do not want to hear, but since I am a tell it like it is kind of Doctor, here goes:

1) Most Spinal Surgeries, especially fusions are not necessary at all.  We have found over the years that not one of the cases that were being recommended for spinal surgery, was actually necessary and actually got well under our care without having to go through surgery.  Please keep in mind that an Extreme trauma from an auto accident or something where Extreme damage has taken place is where a spinal surgery may be necessary.  I am talking about cases that still had all of their parts and their spinal cord intact, rather than a severed cord or crushed/fractured vertebrae.

2) Every time we have come in contact with someone who has had spinal surgery, we have found that their spine actually gets worse and their health goes down as well. The only exception to this is where there is Extreme Trauma and a rare spinal surgery was necessary, even though their health is still decreasing, at least the person is alive at this point.

As an Upper Cervical Specific Doctor, I know that the reason for any misalignments or instability in the Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar Spine, and Sacrum are due to the Upper Cervical Spine Subluxation(s).
So, someone can have lumbar spine misalignments with disc involvement and yes, even to the point of a Spondylolisthesis as an effect of the Upper Cervical Spine Misalignment.
We see these types of cases every day at our clinic, and they continue to improve over time.
The only way to prove that the cervical spine surgery actually caused the spondylo would be to have X-Ray or MRI of the Lumbar Spine before the surgery and after to show the change.  But please understand that the Upper Cervical Spine in the wrong position starts a "domino effect" of misalignment throughout the spine just as much as it realigns the spine once it has been re-aligned properly.
There is no doubt that this surgery altered the structural positioning of the cervical spine vertebrae, which with it's permanency also altered the positioning of the rest of the spine as well.
He will be limited now for the rest of his LIFE due to his spinal surgery, but at this point I would highly recommend, not considering any further surgery until he can at least have his Upper Cervical Spine re-aligned properly.  After that point if there is not significant improvement, then and only then should he possibly consider surgery, and really all conservative methods of healthcare should be at least attempted before going to the drastic permanency of further surgery.
I am sorry that I could not give you more hopeful information but he possibly can still do well as long as the surgery doesn't set him back too far.
Yours in Best Health,
Dr Rob Arnone