Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which your bones, ligaments or discs squeeze the nerves in or around your spinal column. Lumbar spinal stenosis hurts your lower back. If it’s not too severe, the MILD procedure can fix the problem with a tiny incision and no general anesthesia. MILD back surgery is an outpatient procedure that eliminates your pain so you can continue an active lifestyle, free of pain. And you get the procedure done at NY pain management.
The MILD procedure is a minimally invasive back surgery. In fact, the name is an acronym for Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression Surgery. It’s rarely the first choice to address lower back pain, but if you suffer from spinal stenosis, it’s a procedure that can resolve your back pain without resorting to major surgery.
The MILD procedure is truly minimally invasive. You don’t need general anesthesia, and the incision is so tiny, you won’t need stitches when it’s all over. At pain management center NYC, a board-certified doctor trained in the MILD procedure uses an imaging machine, such as a fluoroscope, and special surgical tools to remove small parts of bone and extra ligament tissue. The procedure creates the space needed in your spine to stop your nerve compression.
Causes of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis happens for several reasons. Most of the damage occurs due to wear-and-tear of your spine over time. Lumbar spinal stenosis occurs more often to those 65 years old or older, although it can also appear as a result of trauma to your lower back.The most common causes include:
- A bulging or herniated disc that impinges or pinches a nerve after being compressed from a trauma or from age
- Osteoarthritis that involves a vertebra that grows abnormally in one place, narrowing the space of a nerve
- Abnormally thickened ligaments, that grow into the spaces reserved for nerves
Once you’ve been diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis as the cause of your lower back pain, the top back pain specialist in Midtown takes steps to remedy your condition. Pain Management NYC is one of the most advanced pain management centers in New York, and they have several doctors certified in the MILD back surgery procedure.
Diagnosing Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
Before your best pain management specialist in NYC can perform the MILD procedure, you must undergo a series of tests. Your doctor needs to determine the extent of the damage to your lumbar or lower back spine and reach an accurate diagnosis. These tests may include:
- X-rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
Spinal stenosis is a painful condition that causes the space around or within your spine to narrow. With this narrowing, your bones, cartilage, ligaments, discs and other soft tissues around your spine put pressure on your nerves and spinal cord. Spinal stenosis occurs anywhere along your spine, but the MILD procedure specifically treats spinal stenosis in your lower back.
The MILD Procedure for Spinal Stenosis
The ideal candidate for this procedure is one who suffers from moderate to severe lumbar spinal stenosis. If you have trouble standing for longer than a few minutes or can’t walk long distances without severe pain, you may benefit from a MILD procedure for spinal stenosis. It’s an outpatient procedure that takes just 60 minutes or less.
Once you’re in position, your pain management doctor makes a small incision in your back above the area of the lumbar spine causing you pain. Then, with a fluoroscope and other surgical instruments, he removes the problem bone fragments and extra ligament tissue. The procedure stops your nerve compression, reduces your pain and restores your mobility. Other benefits of this mild back surgery include:
- No post-operative stitches
- No general anesthesia administered
- Minimal downtime — you can return to light activities in a few days
- No spinal damage — the mechanics of your spine aren’t altered, as with invasive surgery
- Great results — you’re able to stand longer and walk farther, all with less pain
Recovery Timeline
Typically, your recovery is a fast process, lasting only a few days. If your symptoms were moderate, you can return to work shortly thereafter. Your pain management doctor reviews your aftercare instructions in detail and schedules your planned follow-up visits.
The MILD procedure has a nearly 80 percent success rate and low risk of complications. Your doctor may prescribe you a physical therapy plan that includes regular walking and physical therapy exercises. Movement helps you heal, so it’s recommended.
The Pain Management NYC Advantage
The MILD procedure’s purpose is to reduce the effects of lumbar spinal stenosis. As with any procedure, there are several risks involved, but when you go to experts at Pain Management NYC, you minimize those risks. Trust your back and your health to the nationally recognized pain doctors at the best NYC pain management clinic.
Getting older doesn’t have to be filled with limitation because of spinal injury or spinal stenosis. You can still be active and live a life with little to no pain by undergoing a MILD procedure. Contact the doctors at Pain Management NYC to stop your pain. Don’t wait.
Boleslav Kosharskyy, MD, is a top-rated, best-in-class interventional pain management doctor. He is board-certified in Anesthesiology, Interventional Pain Medicine, and Palliative Care.
Dr. Kosharskyy is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine at Albert Einstein Medical College. He’s also the Associate Medical Director of Pain Medicine and Director of Anesthesia for the Joint Replacement Center at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein Medical College.
He is an active member of the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA), the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), and the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA)