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Treatment Options for Spondylolisthesis
Conservative Treatments for Spondylolisthesis
- Narcotics (e.g., codeine) may be used only for acute exacerbations of pain for a brief time period of time
- Muscle relaxants
- Cortisone to reduce inflammation - this may be given orally or by injection for a short period time since it is associated with several side effects (e.g., risk of infection and weight gain).
- Epidural injections, spinal blocks, or nerve root blocks - this type of treatment involves injection of steroids or local anesthetics into the epidural space (area around the spinal cord) or the facet joint (area between the vertebrae). Usually one injection is administered and is followed by another one or two additional injections at a later date as needed. This is considered a second-line treatment to be used only if symptoms plateau and are no longer responsive to other interventions.
Use of narcotics and muscle relaxants for pain relief is controversial and, if they are prescribed, it is only for a short time to treat initial pain following the injury.
