What is a Retrolisthesis? Understanding Spinal Displacement Conditions

I'm a 61 year old woman with arthritis and severe cervical issues as well as sciatica and lumbar pain.

The reason for my post is that I have had 3 cervical fusion surgeries since 2003. First it was C5 through T1, and after falling and landing face first in 2007, (on cheekbone), I had to have C4-5 fused. Both of these were through the Front so they removed the initial plate and screws and replaced with a smaller one between C4 and 5.

I was then rear ended which required fusion surgery in 2010 using the posterior approach using rods and screws for a "markedly unstable" C3-4. Rods cover C3 to C5. I have been dealing with the pain and with a very understanding husband have been able to "live" where almost no one would know that I had "anything" wrong with me.

I have recently started have extreme pain up the left side of my neck and into the left side of the base of my scull. It is like someone stabbing me with a hot poker both inside my ear and up into my head. It stops me in my tracks and seems to hit without warning, but appears to happen whenever I move my head even slightly from looking a little downward to the side to straight ahead. It is happening enough that people stop and stair when I suddenly stop as I find it impossible to ignore.

The last time I saw a doctor and he had a spect scan done in Jan 2016, I was said to be stable with minimal retrolisthesis at C3 on C4 and anterolisthesis at T1 through T3.

I am feeling like I should be talking to someone about the sudden change in the pain as well as what causes it, but at the same time, I feel like the doctors are stumped and figure there is nothing they can do and I am just going to have to deal with the pain .

Should this sudden change be something important enough to "bother" the doctors, or would it just be considered something to put up with because it will not get any better?

I have had tingling up and down my spine and leg for two months now, after I fell and had a double fracture of left arm. It has felt like I have been sitting on a motor boat with reverberations up and down the spine and legs. I just started Lyrica and today is the first day on the job that I wasn't totally distracted from these feelings. I will continue this medication along with prayer and I have hope it will get better. Just wanted you to know there could be some help for you too. Stay close to the Lord and he will give you the strength to get you through.

I am curious, I have retrolisthesis in L3, L4, L5 and C5-C6---it is still a new diagnosis, and they are also testing for autoimmune diseases (which is how they found this) I am young (44) and was very active prior to a few weeks ago. Now I'm in tons of pain, have limited mobility, but how am I going to be able to go back to work, office job, and resume my normal activities? The doctors aren't really saying because I know they don't have a definite diagnosis, but no one will level with me.

I was diagnosed with retrolisthesis in L4-S1. The doctor wanted to give my spinal cortisone injections which I refused. He gave me muscle relaxers and pain killers for the pain.

Through my work, I have seen too many patients become addicted to pain killers and muscle relaxers, so I didn't want to go that route, either. I got a prescription to see a physical therapist for six weeks, three times a week. I can't speak for everyone, but just in my own experience, working with the physical therapist and doing the stretches at home like he showed me in his office has helped me tremendously.

Here I am five weeks after I started with PT, and I have more movement and less pain. I've read the posts on here and for those of you who are still suffering, my heart goes out to you, and I will continue to pray that each of you get released from the pain.

@anon145364: I literally feel your pain. I envy old people who can still go for a walk. I feel just like you. Night and day, it never ends. It seems the door keeps closing more and more on my life so that it is almost shut.

But please don't think we were born to suffer. That would mean God is cruel and we have no hope of anything better. We do.

I had a neck x-ray and the result was 3mm retrolisthesis of C4 and C5 that reduces somewhat on flexion but is maintained on extension. What does it really mean?

@anon195453: Sitting can and will aggravate it as will your posture. A lot of articles online encourage physio therapy and chiropractic sessions to alleviate any subluxation, etc. I recommend seeing either before doing any stretches. I learned this the hard way! They can tell you what stretches are bad and good and I tell you it is worth knowing.

I'm a 24 year old female, and was reasonably fit and active until muscle spasms turned into a hernia sciatica and retrolithesis L5.

The first doctor was well aware I was having to travel internationally and ignored me when I asked if there was any stretches etc I could do and just prescribed a strong nsaid.

Once I got to Tokyo everything was fine until I lost the ability to walk and go to the bathroom. I didn't tell the specialist or doctors in Japan for fear of being operated on in a foreign country.

It took me nine weeks before I was able to fly back home. All of the medical professionals I have seen seem to contradict each other so have given up!

Chiropractic manipulations seem to help with the retrolithesis and sciatica, very basic stretching and as much walking I can do helps. Also, a lumbar roll and seat cushion which tilts and is cut out at the back for the spine helps when I drive or have to sit anywhere.

I count myself lucky I can go to the bathroom again but it's a daily burden which cuts your standard of life in half. I don't think anyone can understand the amount of frustration, pain and isolation a serious back issue causes unless they've experienced it for themselves! Good luck to all of you!

I know how you all feel with the pain. I have too many problems to list that pain meds no longer provide much relief for, however, I wanted to suggest lidoderm patches. They will numb the area your pain is in. I use them on for about 16 hours on even though it says to only use them for 12 on 12 off and have used up to three at once. I try to only use them when the pain is more severe than normal because they are so expensive. Usually they have samples in the doctor's office.

They cost about $8.50 a patch at walmart and you can get a coupon from the manufacturer. Wishing you all to wellness. I know how it feels and wish to go home too. The pain is horrible and indescribable.

I have a question. I have a 3.5 mm rethrolisthesis at l3 as compared to L4. The spine specialist cannot get me in for two weeks. I have some sciatica, but with enough ibuprofin I'm okay.

However, I'm terrified that I'm going to make the slippage worse. It hurts to sit. I'm fine standing, walking or lying down, so that's all I've been doing for a few weeks. How likely is it that sitting in a chair (or car!) would make the slippage worse. Does anyone know?

Wow - you two - so sorry you have so much pain. I thought mine was bad but at least I can still work full time. I guess I'm relatively lucky despite 2mm retrolisthesis of C5-6 with mild foraminal narrowing and severe degenerative disc disease with osteophytes along with thoracic degenerative disc disease, a mid thoracic syrinx with central syringomyelia, osteoarthritis (arthritis)and Schmorl's nodes throughout the thoracic spine down to L1. I also have arthritis in the lumbar spine and fibromyalgia.

I am taking 100 mg Nortriptyline and slow release Ralivia (Tramadol) at night to help with sleep and pain but the pain is increasing lately and I am going to see my doctor next week to discuss what I can do next. I can identify with your wish to "go home". I often say that to my husband because life is so painful and tiring. I get so exhausted at times that I can hardly breath.

I guess we have to get what little pleasure we can from life and keep smiling through our pain. No one likes a constant complainer after all, hard though it is not to complain. Good wishes to you both.

I also have fibro, frozen shoulder and all over body pain and a grade 1 of the c3 and c4 which I'm in constant pain from head to toe. no one helps, no meds help.

I know what you mean 127931 -- it is no life. I always pray that God takes me home. I cannot tolerate all the different pain. I also use ice and heat, meds. We were just born to suffer!

i have this along with herniated disks in my neck. also three fractures in the mid thoracic, plus three herniated disks in mid back and one on the nerve root and four bulging into the lumbar with spondylotic changes and stenosis.

It is constant, severe crippling pain, which is everywhere in my whole body. Plus fibro and severe joint, bone muscle, and nerve pain. it feels like i was hit by a truck and run over a thousand times.

I am bedridden most of time with heat packs or ice packs. I can hardly walk, lift up my arms and sit or stand for about 15 min. Medicine only helps at certain times, but the pain always wins. i can be lying still and pain shoots all over my body. it is a terrible way to live. No life at all.