Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD Procedure) for Spinal Stenosis

If you or a loved one is living with the pain of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, you may be a good candidate for the MILD Procedure. Today, our pain management Waynesville NC team (locations also in 10 additional Western North Carolina cities) will be explaining the basics of this low-risk, non-surgical procedure.

  

What is the MILD Procedure?

MILD is an acronym for Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression. It is considered to be a low-risk, medication-free option for treating Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. It is FDA-approved and does not require general anesthesia, implants, or stitches.

 

How Does the MILD Procedure Treat Spinal Stenosis?

This procedure is designed to help patients with Spinal Stenosis be able to stand for longer periods of time without lower back pain. With Spinal Stenosis, pain is caused by a narrowing of the spinal canal or compression of the nerves of the spinal cord. The MILD Procedure is a non-surgical approach to reducing this compression.

In the procedure, the excess growth of bone or ligament tissue that is causing the compression is gently removed through a small incision in the back. Once that growth is removed, the spinal canal can widen back to its normal shape, allowing the nerves to spread out as well. Benefits to this procedure include:

  • Quick healing time

  • No medication involved

  • Minimally invasive, making this an extremely low-risk treatment option

  • Decreased pain symptoms

  • Cost-effective

Visit CPC’s page dedicated exclusively to the MILD procedure to learn more and to watch a quick, educational video showing the procedure in greater detail.

 

How to Prepare

All patients of the Carolina Pain Consultants must first go through a thorough assessment to establish the best treatment options for their own unique diagnosis. If your doctor determines that you are a good candidate for the MILD Procedure, that will be scheduled at the earliest possible time. You can expect the following steps to occur during your MILD Procedure:

  • The procedure is performed with the patient lying face-down on a treatment table

  • Sedation and/or local anesthesia may be used at the doctor’s discretion

  • A small incision is made through the skin near the pain site

  • Guided by X-ray and contrast material, the excess bone or ligament is scraped off and removed through the small incision

The procedure takes less than 2 hours and the patient can expect to be discharged just a few hours after completion.

 

Risks and Recovery

As we’ve stated, this is considered to be a low-risk treatment option. That said, there is still a small risk of the following:

  • Bleeding

  • Infection or irritation at the incision site

  • Damage to nearby internal structures

 

Studies have shown this treatment to be just as effective in reducing Lumbar Spinal Stenosis pain even up to 5 years later. Most patients are able to resume light to normal activity levels after just a few days.

 

Pain Management Waynesville NC

We know you hurt, but you don’t have to! Improve your quality of life with our specialized suite of pain management treatments. Call today to learn more about our comprehensive pain management solutions or to book your first appointment at one of our 11 convenient Western North Carolina locations.

Lauren FischerPain Clinic Asheville 3