Don’t let lower back pain cramp your style
If you’re experiencing pain from lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord nerves in your lower back, you could be a candidate for the ultra-minimally invasive mild® procedure.
LSS can cause pain or numbness in your lower back, buttocks and legs when standing or walking. You may feel relief when you bend forward at the waist or sit down.
The mild® procedure, usually a short outpatient procedure, can help you stand longer and walk farther with less pain. It is performed through a very small incision, about the size of a baby aspirin, and requires no general anesthesia, implants or stitches. The procedure has a very low risk of major complications.
If the mild procedure is right for you, your Novant Health orthopedic physician will use an imaging machine and specialized tools to remove small pieces of bone and excess ligament tissue through a tiny incision in your back. Removing these elements restores space in your spinal canal and decreases the compression of the nerves, which reduces pain and restores mobility. Some doctors have described it as like “removing a kink in a drinking straw.”
After the mild procedure, you should able to return home the same day and resume light tasks and everyday activities within just a few days. Your Novant Health orthopedic team will provide complete instructions on what to do immediately following the procedure and will schedule any necessary follow-up visits or suggested rehabilitation.
Don’t give in to back pain. Talk a Novant Health spine and back specialist about whether the mild procedure could work for you.