Lumbar Spondylolysis is a small crack between two vertebrae (the bones in your spine). Spondylolysis usually causes lower back pain. Most people don’t need surgery to treat it. Rest, medication and physical therapy are most successful when started early, so visit a healthcare provider if you or your child have back pain.
Spondylolysis most commonly affects your lower back (lumbar spine), but it can also happen in the other sections of your spine — in your neck (cervical spine) or middle back (thoracic spine).
Rest: Taking a break from sports and other intense physical activities reduces stress on your spine.
Medications: Over-the-counter NSAIDs can help reduce pain and inflammation. Don’t take over-the-counter pain relievers for more than 10 days in a row without talking to your provider.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids reduce inflammation. Your provider might prescribe you an oral medication that you’ll take by mouth. They might also inject medication directly into the affected area to help relieve pain.
Physical therapy: A physical therapist is a healthcare provider who helps you improve how your body performs physical movements. They’ll help you manage symptoms like pain, stiffness and discomfort that make it hard to move. A physical therapist will give you exercises that will strengthen the muscles around your spine.
Bracing: Your provider might recommend you wear a back brace to stabilize your spine while the pars fracture heals.