Treatment for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Written by Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists staff

Do you find yourself leaning over to reduce the pain in your lower back? You may be one of the millions of people nationwide suffering from Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). This condition may cause lower extremity numbness, tingling, and/or pain which can dramatically limit mobility.

How does the condition come about? In a healthy spinal canal, there is ample space for the nerves to traverse the canal without being restricted or pinched. As we age, everyday activities can cause the spinal canal to narrow due to bulging discs, bone overgrowth, and thickening of spinal ligaments. This narrowing is called Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). When stenosis occurs, there is not enough space for the nerves to traverse the spinal canal. As the canal narrows, the nerves become restricted or pinched which leads to numbness, tingling, and/or pain.

Mild® is a safe procedure that can help patients with LSS. Mild® will help patients stand longer and walk farther with less pain. It is a short outpatient procedure performed through a very small incision which requires no general anesthesia, no implants, and no stitches. Studies show that 79% of patients experience a significant reduction in pain and significant increase in mobility. In addition, the Mild® procedure has been proven to have a very low risk of major complications. Unlike other LSS treatments, Mild® is the only procedure that removes the problem and leaves nothing behind.

The Mild® procedure has been safely performed on thousands of patients. You’ll begin by laying on your belly and having the area that needs to be treated anesthetized. Your doctor will make a very small incision and will use an imaging machine combined with specialized tools to remove small pieces of bone and excess ligament tissue. Removing these elements restores space in the spinal canal and decreases the compression of the nerves, which reduces pain and restores mobility. Some doctors have described the goal of the procedure as being similar to removing a kink in a drinking straw.

After the Mild® procedure, patients are able to return home the same day. They are generally able to resume light tasks and everyday activities within just a few days. Your doctor will provide complete instructions on what to do immediately following the procedure and schedule any necessary follow-up visits or suggested rehabilitation.

Patient Experience for MILD® Procedure

Salvador used to have a very active life. Gardening, playing soccer, and working a very physical job of lifting heavy boxes and running upstairs. When he started to notice back pain 6 years ago, his life changed drastically. He would have difficulty tying his shoes, washing his legs in the shower, and he gave up his passion of playing soccer. His pain became so severe that he would have to brace his whole body if he felt a sneeze coming on.

He decided to take action and called Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists, where he was treated with routine ablations and epidurals. They worked for several years, but his last ablation lasted only a few months, which is when he knew he had to move to the next step of treatment. He was about to visit with a spine surgeon when one of our providers recommended he try the Mild® procedure. To try to avoid an invasive spine surgery, he agreed that it was worth a try.

Salvador’s procedure was done on a Friday afternoon and was completed in under 30 minutes. He experienced no discomfort during the procedure and went home the same day.

“When I woke up on Saturday, I had no pain at all, just like that. I had a little discomfort from the incision site but no pain at all. To be honest with you I thought it was a dream.”

Salvador has been back to doing the things he loves without the constant presence of back pain. Being pain free has Salvador back to work and returning to his active lifestyle.

“I can tie my shoes and go swimming. I can bend over while gardening and not experience any pain. I’m really blessed and I’m really glad that my providers at Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists recommended this for me.”

WHAT PEOPLE SAY PATIENTS' PRAISE

Over 90% of our facet joint injection patients report improvement in their condition. Over 75% said their condition improved by more than 50%

Over 83% of our epidural patients report improvement in their condition. Over 75% said their condition improved by more than 50%

Overall, 83% of our patients report a better quality of life, 60% report less pain, and 62% report improvement in their function