What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
As we age, natural wear-and-tear on the spine can lead to a condition known as Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, or LSS. LSS is a debilitating condition that causes lower back pain that can radiate into the buttocks and down the leg. It also causes numbness, weakness, or tingling sensations in the lower back and legs. These symptoms can make it difficult to stand upright and to walk, interfering with your work and leisure time. That is where the MILD Procedure for Spinal Stenosis comes in.
Lumbar spinal stenosis results from a narrowing of the spinal canal. What causes the spinal canal to narrow?
LSS can be caused by a number of factors, but usually it’s due to one or more of the following:
- Arthritis
- Thickening ligament tissue
- Bulging (herniated) discs
- Compressed discs
- Vertebral bone spurs
- A spinal injury
- The narrowing canal pinches the nerves that thread through the lumbar spine and down your legs. A treatment that clears out the canal can widen that space and make room for the nerves to function normally, without causing pain.
What is the Mild Procedure?
Mild Procedure for Spinal Stenosis, Advanced Pain Management Los AngelesThe mild procedure is an FDA-approved, minimally-invasive treatment to remove excess tissue in the spinal canal, with the goal of relieving pressure on the spinal nerves. It can be performed on an outpatient basis in less than an hour. Your physician will use X-ray imaging to locate areas of diseased or damaged tissue. After administering anesthesia, a small incision will be made in your lower back, through which the physician will slide a series of dilators increasing in size. These dilators will gradually widen the space between the muscles and other soft tissue. Next, a retractor tool will remove the dilators, leaving behind a “working channel,” so that the surgical tools can access the spine. The physician then removes any build-up of tissue, taking pressure off the nerves. The “working channel” may be carefully moved around to access different areas of the vertebra. When all of the excess tissue is gone, the instruments are removed, the “working channel” is closed, and the incision is bandaged. The mild Procedure requires no implants or stitches.
Benefits of Mild Procedure
The mild procedure offers a number of benefits, and has greatly improved the quality of life of thousands of patients. A clinical study showed that among patients who received the mild Procedure,
Before mild Procedure After mild Procedure
Standing duration 8 mins. 56 mins.
Walking distance Apprx. 250 ft. Apprx. 4,000 ft.
Complications due to the mild Procedure are rare, but like any surgical procedure, there are some risks you should be aware of. Call our offices for your consultation today. Our board-certified pain specialist is highly skilled at diagnosing the causes of LSS pain and will design a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
