Pars Defect/Spondylolysis

Last week I was told I have a pars defect and the doctor basically wants to go straight to burning the nerves. After they do one of those blocks to see if that's actually what's causing me pain. I have a terrible headache at the moment so I can't think of the name. I had an mri months ago, yet no one told me anything beyond there was a defect so my bone was a bit weak. No important info or actual dx name or anything. I was definitely not having problems like this at the time of the mri. It didn't get bad until about a month and a half ago. I started pt for alleged fibromyalgia in November and believe this is what caused my back and pain to become worse. If I would've known about the spondylolysis before starting pt I think I would've had a chance to make things better. Idk. Wishful thinking?

Anyway... I want to know what other people do/did for spondylolysis. I'd like to try a brace and changing what I do in pt to see if the fracture will actually heal. Any advice for the pain? It feels like something is crushing my hips from the front straight through to my back. My hips pop/crack a lot too. I read that this tends to happen most often to athletic, adolescent males and I am none of those, so I'm really lost.

Hello Sunny.

I have a pars defect as well as AS,both were diagnosed a few years ago when I first started getting a burning sort of ache down the back of my leg and had trouble even breathing when I first awoke in the morning.

Saw a Neuro and had an MRI.

I however opted to do nothing that involved surgery. I go to physical therapy,use hydrotherapy twice a week,injection rounds of 3 every 4 months,added 1st cymbalta then lyrica after a adverse reaction. The only other added med was Indocin and its an old arthritis type med,works for me.

I would certainly research any options available to you and possibly get a 2nd opinion.

Good luck to you and others will chime in here too.

Vickie