Spondylolethesis…. What

In 2010, I got the official diagnosis: spondylolisthesis. L5S1

Basically, it’s what happens when a vertebra decides to slip forward over the one beneath it—think of it as my spine’s version of a surprise move on the dance floor.

Here’s the kicker: I didn’t even know I had it. Turns out, the whole thing might trace back to a car accident in 2001, when I was rear-ended and pushed into the car in front of me. I was just sitting at a red light—completely innocent—yet somehow, my spine decided to start its own slip and slide years later.

Now, no one mentioned this in 2001, so who knows what else is hiding in my back?

Treatment varies—sometimes just rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatories do the trick. But for the more stubborn cases, there might be a back brace or even surgery.

In case it’s not clear: spondylolysis is a crack in a small part of the vertebra called the pars interarticularis, and spondylolisthesis is when that crack causes the vertebra to slip forward due to instability. Basically, my back’s version of a missed step leading to a trip—and me, trying to figure out how I got here!