Hi, i've just stumbled across your story and was overwhelmed to read what you've been through. I've been living with grade 5 Spondylolisthesis for the past 10 years since i was 14 although i've never really known it. Suppose i'd better start from the begninning... i think when i was around 13/14 i fell at a friends sleepover, and that was the first time i remember feeling back pain. I ignored the pain and discomfort for days assuming i'd just really hurt myself.. life wasnt great at home and i suppose in my heart i knew i'd done something serious to myself but i just told myself it was growing pains!!I didnt want to make life more stressful for my family i suppose! sounds utterly ridiculous now! about 6 months later i finally realised the pain i'd been going through and the fact i couldnt bend forwards.. i finally told my mam, who went into a state of blind panic, blaming herself for not noticing, bless her. I wasnt taken seriously by 3 doctors, all telling my it was a sports injury..one simply saying to me 'you have the back of an old lady'..charming.. anyway my sister bascially threatened the GP and we got an appointment at the hospital to see a consultant. in following months my scans were lost, the consultant was on holiday on my appointment date etc. I had the condition explained to me, vaguely..i didnt have a clue what was wrong with me to be honest. I felt like i was wasting doctors time! i went away and have just lived with it for the past 10 years seeking no help, until a few months ago when the pain became so acute even i couldnt handle it..and i handle a lot of pain (as you can imagine)! so i went back to the hospital, got new MRI's and couldnt believe my eyes when i saw my spine... it just amazed me.. So now i've basically been told there's nothing they can do for me, that i'm lucky that my legs and bladder havent been affected and i dont really know what to do. They said i have to stop working, start swimming and that they'll keep check on my for..well forever! im still really non the wiser as to whats going to happen to me in the future...and just hoped you could give me some advice on things you find helpful for pain etc.?... any help would be appreciated.Lilly
