Question
I have been having lower back pain off and on for several years. 8 weeks ago I bent over and "reinjured" my back and have been having lots of trouble since then. I saw my neurosurgeon and we decided to do PT for my SI joint. I have had to stop PT because "I am so unstable". I had an MRI that showed spondylolisthesis of L5 S1, foraminal stenosis, focal central disc protrusion due to degenerative disc dz, mild canal stenosis. My doctor has given me the option of a nerve block or possible spinal fusion surgery. I have been doing research on all of this and was wondering if you could give some advice. My concern is that the nerve block is temporary and may or may not work. I am having trouble finding something that can "help me make up my mind". I work as a nurse in the Neo ICu and I have 2 small children. I just want something that is going to allow me to do my normal daily activities.Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Answer
Hello, Nicole,

Displacement of vertebral alignment, as in spondylolisthesis, commonly results from mechanical (muscular) stresses on the spinal column, as do disc protrusion and degeneration.

A more conservative and highly reliable approach than irreversible surgery would be to ameliorate those muscular stresses, which result from reflexive contractions in the paraspinal musculature.  Learn to recapture voluntary control of those contractions from the involuntary reflexes, the muscles relax and the mechanical stresses abate.  Pain relief usually occurs immediately, though in some cases, tissue irritation may persist for some weeks.

If you have surgery, you will still need to take steps to free yourself from reflexive muscular contractions, which, incidently, are triggered by surgery and other wounding events.

Please read my articles on back pain at somatics.com/page4.htm for more information on reflexive contraction patterns and options for recovery.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold