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Slipped Discs
spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one vertebra slips forward onto the one below it. Retrolisthesis is when one vertebra slips backwards on the one below.
This usually occurs because the facet joints at on the posterior part of the spine have degenerated (worn away) and fail to prevent excessive vertebral slippage. In adults, the most common cause is a degenerative disc disease which leads to excessive stress on the facet joints and causes degeneration(such as arthritis) and the slip usually occurs between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae (L4 and L5).
Symptoms can include lower back pain, pain in the thighs and buttocks or tenderness in the slipped area. Leg weakness or numbness can result from pressure on nerve roots and can cause pain to radiate down the legs. Other causes of spondylolisthesis include stress fractures (caused by repetitive hyper-extension of the back, commonly seen in gymnasts) and traumatic fractures.
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