Symptoms of Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis Spondylolysis
and spondylolisthesis may not cause any obvious symptoms for
some children. In others, spondylolysis can cause pain that
spreads across the lower back. Pain may be worse when children
arch their backs. If the slipping is severe for children with
spondylolisthesis, it can stretch the nerves in the lower part
of the back. This can lead to: - Pain that goes down one or both
legs - A numb feeling in one or both feet - Weakness in your
child’s legs - Trouble controlling bladder or bowel movements
Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis Diagnosis Doctors look first
for signs of cracks in the bones of your child's back. These
cracks are called stress fractures. We look for stress fractures
first because spine slippage, though rare in children, usually
happens to those who have the fractures first. The doctor will
ask your child if the pain is worse when they arch their back.
This is a common sign of stress fractures. Most often, these
fractures are in the low