bertolotti syndrome

An xray in 2012 has probably found the reason for my left leg weaknes, hip & back pain that I've had since 1996. A transitional L5 with sclerotic growth to the sacrum with apparent pseudoarthrosis. Classic Bertolotti Syndrome. I too was struggling along with life. In pain & fatigued but functional & working. Lots of upper back/neck/head pain. I started to exercise so as to 'get fit' & lose weight. Worst decision I ever made. Within 5 weeks I started having increasing problems so I stopped exercising but continued to use the exercise ball as a chair cause it's good for core & improved core helps relieve back pain. Not a good decision. Bertolotti people need a solid chair/seat to keep the hips stable. After PT. tried hip stretch & caused massive acute pain, she offered a hip support belt. I found immediate neck/back relief with a Sacrum-Iliac support belt, pulley-cable system. The hip/leg issues have taken much longer but with lots of massge & heat to get the knotted muscles in legs/hips/back to release the leg is slowly becoming more functional. Not back to work yet but able to do more & have better quality of life. 

Hi all, I too have had steady back pain since the age of 26 and am now 33. Like most of you, i have tried injections on a couple of a occasions, therapy, and chiropractor care with minamal to no relief. Recently I began to lose feeling in my right leg and that is beginning to be unbearable. After 6 years of going to doctor after doctor for a diagnosis of which have ranged from arthritis to nothing found and treatments ranging from facet injections to "get use to it", I was told today of "bertolotti sydrome". I have continued to do what i want as far as activity, I just pay for it later. My career as a firefighter has not been affected as of yet, meaning I still do what I need to do. Everything that I have read in the above post describe what I have been going through. The doctor that finally diagnosed me is a pain management doctor and my question is should I stay with him (he seems to be up on the syndrome compared to the neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeons I have been seeing) or see a Berlotti specialist to which I didn't know existed until reading this site?

Hi, As I am reading your post It seems I am reading myself being described. I thought for so long that I was the only one out there with this pain. No one seems to understand it and I am so frustrated with people telling me its in my head or there is nothing wrong with me. As of 2010 I have a Congenital partial fusion of L4-5. Posterior L3-4 disc bulge. Left foraminal disc bulge at L4-5 narrowing the inferior aspect of the foramen. Also a Tarlov cyst within the S2 vertebra. I have seen several back doctors, had 3 injections, done therapy. Recently I went and seen another back specialist and they do not seem to see anything real alarming and did not want to see a newer MRI which surprised me as my pain is changing and getting worse. So here I am doing therapy again. I cannot sit because the pressure in my bottom is so bad I have to lean forward or stand up to tolerate it. I have just met a sweet woman who just had surgery for Bertolotti Syndrome and am waiting for her response as to how it helped he pain level. I was a very active woman but now feel I cannot commit to anything because I never know what the next day is going to bring. I guess it is just good for me to know I am not alone and I am not crazy or depressed! I am glad I found this site. Thank you for sharing your story.

I would love to hear form anyone who had the resection surgery thank you!

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I made a discovery that some of you could verify. My LSTV is on my left side and I noticed that each time that I lay on my right side, I get a bad flare-up. Try to completely avoid to sleep or lie on the other side of your lumbosacral transverse process for a few days and let us know if it helps to limit the pain somewhat. I have not been able to sit without causing a bad flare-up for almost 3 years now. Sleeping for more than a few hours worsen the symptoms as well as exercising and especially stretching. I'm looking for a surgeon to do the resection. Not easy to find in Canada.

I met Dr Silcox yesterday. He diagnosed me with thus syndrome. I gotta say after 6+ years of pain, sleepless nights, on again off again therapy, 2-3 cortizone shot a year, Nsaids, pills and frustration, him naming my pain was a hyge relief. I was injured on the job, and have been sent to inferrior drs. I don't have a treatment plan, but just naming my pain was a relief. I would go to Dr Silcox if you suspect this diagnosis!

Hi if you can suggest me some yoga n nutrition it would be helpful dear........m suffering from bertolloti's syndrome and really scared

May you tell me a little more about this doctor?

Dr Silcox in Atlanta, Peachtree Orthopedics, another earlier post by Dr Diva mentioned him as well. I was sent to him as a 2nd opinion because "Dr Jackass" (as my family and friends have come to know him) basically wants to drop me from his list of workman's comp patients and "can't find anything wrong, You must be imaging it". So in 30 minutes on 1st visit during which he looked at my lumbar MRI CD and took xrays in his office he diagnosed me with Bertolotti's Syndrome. he was professional, compassionate and hands on. Very refreshing!

I, too, have Bertolotti's Syndrome (diagnosed almost 47 years ago). I've been getting epidurals and facet blocks and radio frequency lesioning from the pain clinic at a huge teaching hospital here. All of them, except for one epidural done by a student, were absolutely useless. I stopped working 12 years ago. Have been using a mobility scooter outside the house for just over 9 years. The past year the pain has been ferocious. I'm trying to get a replacement powerchair that I can use inside the apartment. My primary care physician is an id**t ... she doesn't think I should give up *walking* ... I haven't walked in over 9 years. Like I said, she's an id**t. She sat on the paperwork so long that the mobility equipment provider lost their contract. Have to start the whole process all over again. I noticed that you said there was a specialist in Boston. I wondered if you had any way of tracking down who that is. I did go to a specialist in Bertolotti's about three years ago (in Burlington, MA). At that time, he said he would not recommend surgery. He has since retired. The people at the hospital that I go to for my medical care don't even understand Bertolotti's at all. The only medication I've been given is high dose ibuprofen. I can't take it anymore .. it's leaching calcium and magnesium out of my system. Doesn't really work anyway, except makes it a little easier to stand first thing in the morning. Thanks. Barb

I am 49 years old and i have bertolotti syndrom. about 3 years ago my lower back starting hurting when i did outsid  work, of and on after strenuous work, i could hardly walk that night and espesially in the morning, after about 1 years of that the pain hit and never went away. Its bee 2 years of constant pain and i fear i will be in awheelchair soon, because the pain is so bad. I cant walk more that 20 min, or my leg will go numb and the pain will radiate further up to my middle back, I cant stand more than 20 min or my leg will go numb, I cant sit more than 20 min or the pain get worse !  I sit at my kitchen table every morning and just cry, because i feel helpless and hopeless! and am so tired if the pain! Dr's dont know alot about this syndrome, and most never even heard of it.My lower back is visibly bruised from the inside out!  Never fell or hurt it, Its from the syndrome!!!  One dr said there's a surgery for it, but wouldnt recommend it.. basically live with the pain, Can turn to hard core meds, but then you face addiction. Dr;s say i was born with this, but never had the pain until i was 47 years old. There needs to be more reserch on Bertolotti syndrome!

Hi,

I've just been diagnosed with Bertolotti syndrome two months ago. My back pain is killing me. I feel the pinching pain whenever I move my backing. I am thinking of consulting with specialist. I feel very lucky to find your link to your doctor. If you don't mind, how is your back pain now after your surgery?

Thanks,

Hi,

I've been diagnosed with this Bertolotti syndrome, and I am thinking of consulting with a specialist. I would like to know if you have met with a specialist and get a right treatment for this rare syndrome. I am 28, and I start to worry soon I won't be able to work or do anything productive due to the back pain that causes by this. Please help.

Thanks

Hi, I am soo happy to read your comment, because I too have been suffering for abot 8 years now with this chronic pain, to the point it keeps me from appreciating life at times. Please let me know where and who performed surgery on your daughter, Thanks you soo very much I am in desperate need for resection which seems to be the best option, but I would like to have a recommended physician, by the way I am 27 :(

Could you tell me your exercises you do daily? I've found walking really helps, and i stretch all the time. I'm just not sure which ones I should do daily. I also do a mat Pilates and Pilates on the reformer. I can't sit for long periods of time or I'm in screaming pain. Thanks!