[missed_out]

I have bilateral pars defect at L5 with a grade I Spondylolisthesis. Local doctors want to fuse L3-L5, or I will be in a wheelchair within 5 years. For younger people that may be their only option. Non-local doctors do not recomend fusion.

15 years later, no fusion, no wheelchair.

This is what I did and do:

1. Educate myself a. search: stuart mcgill waterloo university. b. Understand spinal stability and core excercises c. Walk! not stroll! (i do 6 miles at least 3 times a week. Sitting is the new Smoking! 2. Listen to your body! I have learned to recognise that my back is close to a traumatic event. 3. When my back goes out, a short rest, but keep moving. 4. Fully understand that excercising will cause irritation, but it is tolerable versus when my back goes out. 5. Medications: Soma, flexeril, and tramadol (NSAIDs such as ibuprohen trash my GI) After an event, I take the Soma and tramadol to help me keep moving. Daytime, they both will keep me awake. At night, flexeril. It works best on muscle spasms which exhausts the muscles which leads to pain. And it puts me to sleep. I will use these meds for a short period of time every 5-6 months! 6. Streching and doing it correctly is very important. 7. Getting out of a chair, use your legs! DO NOT lean forward to pull yourself upright! 8. You may want to wear a simple lifting belt. Not for support but to remind yourself not to put your lower back in a stressfull position. 9. Understand that "correct" posture sitting may not be a good idea for long periods of time. 10. If the problem is the lower back, educate yourself on the function and stretching of the Psoas muscle. It is a fast twitch muscle, and sitting contracts the muscle. Quick and sudden contraction puts tremendous pressure on the discs. 11. Try to keep your spine in its natural position, maintaining symmetry is critical. Yeah, it is uncomfortable, but the lack of symmetry will impede recovery. 12. If you have imaging done, demand copies on a CD. This will help you to seek additional opinions.