Lower back pain is problematic. But lower back pain that is a result of medical conditions can prove even worse. Pain that is a result of an acute injury can often be treated by at-home methods, but pain that is caused by osteoporosis, disc issues and aging can prove to be even more difficult to treat. That is, until now. The mild® procedure offers patients the opportunity for extended pain relief without the need for an injection. The Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas are experts in the revolutionary mild® procedure with the goal to help their patients who are suffering from lower back pain find relief and increase their quality of life.
What is the mild® Procedure?
The mild® procedure, known as minimally-invasive lumbar decompression, is a minimally-invasive, safe, and non-surgical option for treating lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Lumbar spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition that causes lower back pain. It occurs when the spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves and spinal cord in the lower back, which can be caused by aging, spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis, or tumors. The mild® procedure addresses a major root cause of lumbar spinal stenosis by removing small pieces of bone and thickened ligament in the spine. This restores space in the spinal canal, which reduces the compression of the spinal nerves. This helps to reduce pain as well as improve mobility.
More than 2 million people are diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis every year. It most commonly affects people aged 50 or older, and the likelihood of experiencing it increases with age because of the normal wear and tear on the spine with use. Sometimes described as a “kink in a drinking straw,” the narrowing of the spine can be caused by thickening of ligament tissue, overgrowth of bone (osteoarthritis) or compression/bulging of spinal discs.
The mild® procedure is an early treatment option to consider when conservative methods, such as physical therapy, pain medication, and chiropractic treatments, have failed to provide adequate and long lasting relief.
What Does Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Feel Like?
The most common symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis are:
- Pain or numbness in the lower back when standing
- Pain, numbness, heaviness or tingling in the upper legs or buttocks when walking
- Pain when sleeping, which is alleviated if in the fetal position
- Temporary relief when bending or leaning forward
A person can also experience feelings of aching, cramping, tingling and heaviness when walking or standing. Due to the fact that patients who suffer from lumbar spinal stenosis find relief when bending over, using a walker or cane can help to provide temporary relief.
Patients who are a good candidate for this procedure are those who haven’t been able to find pain relief from over-the-counter medications, physical therapy, and therapeutic injections.
What Does the mild® Procedure Involve?
The mild® procedure is a quick, minimally-invasive treatment option for patients who are suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis. Mild® is an FDA-cleared procedure that is performed through a tiny incision, about the size of a baby Aspirin. It is also performed using only a local anesthetic and light sedation.
Your pain management specialist will insert specialized tools through a small incision in the back to remove bone and excess ligament in the back that is causing the narrowing of the spinal canal. The removal of these materials allows for a decrease in nerve compression, as well as subsequent pain. The mild® procedure has been performed on thousands of patients who have reported a decrease of pain as well as an increase of mobility.
The entire procedure should take less than an hour. Most patients report immediate feelings of pain relief, while for others it could take a few days. The procedure has also helped patients avoid back surgery for at least five years, all while experiencing pain relief.
What are the Benefits and Risks of the mild® Procedure?
The main benefit of the mild® procedure is that it is a safe, effective and non-surgical option for helping patients who have been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis with pain relief. Specific benefits include:
- Increased standing time: patients were able to increase their average pain-free standing time from eight to 56 minutes
- Increases walking distance: patients were able to increase their average pain-free walking distance from 246 feet to 3,956 feet
- Avoiding back surgery: 88% of patients were able to avoid back surgery for at least five years, all while enjoying pain relief
- Safety profile similar to an epidural steroid injection
- Patient satisfaction: 85% of patients were satisfied with the mild® procedure
- Short out-patient procedure: the procedure does not require any general anesthesia, implants, stitches, steroids, or opioid medications
- Quick recovery time: patients are able to resume normal daily activities within a day
- Addresses a major root cause of LLS: not only does it combat the symptoms of LSS, it also treats the cause of the symptoms, which provide for long lasting pain relief
- No treatment options eliminated: due to the fact that the procedure doesn’t alter the anatomy of the spine, there are no future treatment options that can’t be performed, should they be needed
- Covered by Medicare
There is also a low complication rate for the mild® procedure, which makes it an attractive option for all patients who are suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis, and for those who are elderly and might have additional health issues.
The chance of complications from the procedure are low, but worth noting. Potential risks include injection and bleeding at the incision site, spinal cord damage, and possible nerve injury. It’s important to review your medical and health history with your provider prior to undergoing any treatment to determine if the mild® procedure is right for you.
If you have been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis and would like to avoid surgery as well as long term pain medication use, please schedule an appointment today with the Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas. Our team can partner with you to review your symptoms and determine if the mild® procedure is the best and most effective treatment option for you.
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common condition, with more than two million patients diagnosed nationwide each year. Typically, this medical condition develops in middle age people and the likelihood of developing it increases with aging. Patients who develop this condition commonly complain of pain, numbness, or tingling in their lower back, buttocks, and legs. It limits the ability to stand and/or walk.
The spine protects nerve tissues (the spinal cord and spinal nerves) that run from your brain to your upper and lower body. The bony column that encloses the spinal cord is called the spinal canal and is made up of ligaments, bones, and discs. In a healthy individual there is enough space for the spinal cord and the spinal nerves to pass through the spinal canal freely and exit the spine without any restriction.
Due to natural wear and tear on the body with aging, the spinal canal becomes narrowed over time due to thickened ligaments, overgrowth of bone (osteoarthritis), and/or bulging discs. The narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back or lumbar region is called lumbar spinal stenosis.
Mild® is a safe procedure that can help patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. It is an outpatient procedure performed through a very small incision. It requires no general anesthesia, no implants, and no stitches.
The procedure begins with the patient lying on his or her stomach. The area around the lumbar spine is numbed with a local anesthetic. The physician will then make a very small incision over the area where the lumbar stenosis is located. Using fluoroscopic guidance and specialized tools, the physician will remove small pieces of bone and excess ligament tissue that are narrowing the spinal canal. This restores space in the spinal canal which creates enough space for the spinal cord and the spinal nerves to once again pass through the spinal canal freely and exit the spine without any restriction.
After the mild® procedure, most patients are able to return home the same day and are generally able to resume light tasks and everyday activities within just a few days. The physician will provide complete instructions on what to do immediately following the procedure and schedule any necessary follow-up visits or suggested rehabilitation.
The mild® procedure has been safely performed on thousands of patients. 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 lumbar spinal stenosis treatments like implants, mild® is a solution that removes the problem and leaves nothing behind.