Anterolisthesis occurs when a vertebra, one of the bones that make up your spine, slips forward over the one beneath it. It can be caused by strenuous activity, trauma, tumors, or disease, and treatment varies depending on how severe the slippage is.
Changes to any part of your back—such as ones that may occur with aging, getting hurt, or having other medical conditions—can lead to back pain. It can start suddenly or come on slowly. It may feel like a dull, constant ache, or a sudden, sharp pain.
Back pain can make getting through the day hard, but it can make getting a good night’s sleep even harder. It can be tough to find a comfortable position so you can doze off. And you might not even be able to get in and out of bed without pain.
For the 80% of adults who experience it at some point in their lives, the go-to treatment is often over-the-counter pain relievers, an ice pack, and rest. But while most back pain does go away on its own, there are times when toughing it out at home isn’t a good idea.
As we age, it's common to notice posture changes: shoulders rounding, head leaning forward, back starting to curve. You might associate this with older adults and wonder: will this happen to me? Can I prevent it?
