Distortion of the alignment of the vertebrae through which the spinal cord passes, the vertebrae overlapping the other vertebrae or protruding to the right or left, thus damaging the nerves and tissues around it, is called lumbar slip (spondylolisthesis).
Our spine consists of 24 vertebrae. The first five of these vertebrae from the hip are called L1-L5. Lumbar shift affects the parts where these vertebrae are located. As a result of this slipping event, our spinal cord, which passes through the spine, is compressed and complaints such as pain, numbness and burning occur in both legs. The most common ones are shifts due to wear and tear in old age, shifts that develop after surgery, and shifts that develop due to congenital problems in the vertebrae in childhood. Symptoms seen include back and hip pain; numbness in the legs, pain, muscle tension, weakness, increased lumbar curvature, or difficulty walking. Although these symptoms are relieved temporarily by rest, the pain usually increases with standing, walking and other movements. The most typical symptom of low back pain is feeling the need to stop while walking. While walking, we suddenly have a pain in our legs and we have to stop. After resting for a while, we can easily walk again. Stopping for very short periods while walking is a sign of a canal narrowing in the lower back. Canal stenosis is a discomfort that usually occurs with waist slippage. Apart from this, the numbness and burning caused by standing for a long time with both legs and sitting for a long time can be a sign of slipped back. Frequent cramping and holding the legs at night can also be a sign of back slippage.
In the treatment of low back slippage, in cases where the pain is not severe or felt at regular intervals, surgery is not required, painkillers and rest are recommended. It is supported by medication and physical therapy according to the patient’s condition, in cases where the pain is severe or in cases where the patient refuses the surgery, an injection (epidural cortisone) is made between the painful vertebrae and pain relievers are given to that area, but this procedure does not provide the patient’s treatment but only provides temporary relief. The definitive treatment is surgery. Because lumbar slippage completely prevents the patient from walking after a while and can make the person dependent on his home and bed, if it progresses further, there will be undesirable results such as loss of sexual power or urinary incontinence. Vertebrae sliding on each other are fixed with screws. The placed bones are expected to fuse. This period is approximately 12-18 months.
