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A minimally invasive lumbar decompression or MILD procedure helps relieve chronic back pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). At the Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine in Placentia and Rancho Mirage, California, the team has years of experience performing MILD procedures. A MILD procedure typically takes less than an hour and provides lasting pain relief. Call the nearest Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine office to schedule a MILD procedure consultation, or book your appointment online today.
What is the MILD procedure?
The MILD procedure is a safe and effective treatment for back pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).
LSS is a chronic condition that occurs when your spinal canal narrows, placing excess pressure on the nerves in the lower back. Anyone can experience LSS, but it’s most common in people 50+. As we age, our spinal cord undergoes various changes, increasing the risk of nerve compression and damage.
Am I a candidate for MILD?
Request a MILD procedure consultation at the Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine if you experience symptoms like:
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the buttocks, thighs, or calves
- Numbness and tingling in your lower back or legs
- Leg and foot weakness
Most people with chronic lower back pain can benefit from the MILD procedure. However, tell your provider if you take prescription medication or have an underlying medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes. These issues won’t prevent you from undergoing MILD, but they can increase the risk of complications, so the team must be aware.
What does the MILD procedure involve?
The MILD procedure is an outpatient operation that typically takes 60 minutes or less.
When you arrive at the Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine, your provider has you lie facedown on an operating table and administers general anesthesia, causing you to fall asleep.
After the anesthesia sets in, your provider makes several small incisions over your lower spine and uses ultrasound or X-ray imaging to guide surgical tools to your lower back. Once the tools are in position, they remove the small pieces of bone and ligament, narrowing your spinal canal.
Removing these hard and soft tissues eases pressure on the nerves in your back and reduces inflammation, relieving pain and restoring your mobility.
At the end of surgery, your provider removes the surgical tools, closes the incisions, and moves you to a recovery room. Since it takes several hours for the anesthesia to wear off, a friend or family member must drive you home.
What is recovery like after the MILD procedure?
After a MILD procedure, it’s normal to experience some pain, swelling, and bruising at the incision sites. Take your medication as prescribed, get plenty of rest, and follow your surgeon’s recovery instructions. Most people return to work within 24-48 hours, but it may take longer. Whatever you do, don’t rush back into activity, or it could affect your healing.
Call the nearest Centers of Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine office to schedule a MILD procedure consultation, or book your visit online today.