Can you tell me the outlook for people with spondylolysis?

Usually good: 6% of the population has it, and most do not know it. If you have it and pain, it may not even be the cause of your pain. If it does seem to be the cause, most of the time it will improve with conservative care (that is, without surgery).

Varies: Spondylolysis (broken pars of the spine which hooks the upper vertebrae to the lower vertebrae) maybe improve, stay the same or worsen. Many people have no pain at all. Since the "hook" is broken the spine may start to slip apart which is called spondylolithesis resulting in pinching of the sciatic nerve and sciatica.