Dr. Eck received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Catholic University of America in Biomedical Engineering, followed by a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. Following this he worked as a research engineer conducting spine biomechanics research. He then attended medical school at University of Health Sciences. He is board eligible in orthopaedic surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Risk factors for spondylolisthesis include a family history of back problems.
Other risk factors include a history of repetitive trauma or hyperextension of
the lower back or lumbar spine. Athletes such as gymnasts, weight lifters, and
football linemen who have large forces applied to the spine during extension are
at greater risk for developing isthmic spondylolisthesis.
What are the symptoms of spondylolisthesis?
The most common symptom of spondylolisthesis is
lower back
pain. This is often
worse after exercise especially with extension of the lumbar spine. Other
symptoms include tightness of the hamstrings and decreased range of motion of the
lower back. Some patients can develop pain, numbness, tingling or weakness
in the legs due to nerve compression. Severe compression of the nerves can cause loss of control of
bowel or bladder function, or cauda equina syndrome.
How is spondylolisthesis diagnosed?
In most cases it is not possible to see visible signs of
spondylolisthesis by examining a patient. Patients typically have complaints of
pain in the back with intermittent pain to the legs. Spondylolisthesis can
often cause muscle
spasms, or tightness in the hamstrings.
Spondylolisthesis is easily identified using plain
radiographs. A lateral X-ray (from the side) will show if one of the vertebra
has slipped forward compared to the adjacent vertebrae. Spondylolisthesis is graded according the
percentage of slip of the vertebra compared to the neighboring vertebra.
Grade I
is a slip of up to 25%,
grade II is between 26%-50%,
grade III is between 51%-75%,
grade IV is between 76% and 100%, and
Grade V, or spondyloptosis occurs when the
vertebra has completely fallen off the next vertebra.
If the patient has complaints of pain, numbness, tingling
or weakness in the legs, additional studies may be ordered. These symptoms could
be caused by stenosis or narrowing of the space for the nerve roots to the legs.
A CT scan or MRI scan can help identify compression of the nerves associated with
spondylolisthesis. Occasionally, a PET scan can help determine if the bone at
the site of the defect is active. This can play a role in treatment options for
spondylolisthesis as described below.
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
Lumbar stenosis can be caused by degenerative arthritis (the most common cause), tumor, infection, or metabolic disorders (Paget's disease of the bone). Symptoms include low back pain, weakness, pain, numbness, and loss of sensation in the legs. Other conditions may cause similar symptoms of lumbar stenosis, including diabetic neuropathy, claudication, and peripheral vascular disease. Diagnosis, is a medical history and imaging studies. Lumbar stenosis may be treated with medication or surgery.
Degenerative disc disease makes the disc more susceptible to herniation (rupture) which can lead to localized or radiating pain. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises and medications to relieve pain, muscle spasm and inflammation.
Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain includes: complex regional pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. There are a variety of methods to treat chronic pain, which are dependant on the type of pain experienced.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Arthritis RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the