Mild Procedure

What is the mild procedure?

The mild (minimally invasive lumbar decompression) procedure is a treatment option for patients with chronic back pain from spinal nerve compression from lumbar spinal stenosis. 

It’s a minimally invasive procedure that removes small pieces of bone and excess ligament tissue through a 5.1 millimeter (0.2 inch) poke hole in the back, relieving pressure on the nerve.

Advanced Spine and Pain Center performs the mild procedure in the outpatient setting. The procedure is safe and effective, requires little downtime, and most patients are walking on the same day. 

Am I a candidate for the mild procedure?

Your board-certified pain management physician at Advanced Spine and Pain Center determines if you’re a candidate for the mild procedure after a consultation. They perform the procedure for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal space. That narrowing leads to irritation or compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerves, causing lower back pain or weakness in the legs that makes walking hard for long periods.

If you have lumbar spinal stenosis that causes pain or weakness in your legs, you should schedule a consultation at Advanced Spine and Pain Center to discuss your treatment options. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a progressive condition, and symptoms worsen over time.

What happens during the mild procedure?

Your provider at Advanced Spine and Pain Center reviews the details of your procedure at your consultation, so you know what to expect. 

While lying on the treatment table, your provider administers a sedative that helps you relax during the procedure. They inject a local anesthetic at the surgical site, so you don’t feel any pain.

Your provider then makes the small poke incision and inserts specialized tools to remove the excess tissue. They use X-ray-guided imaging during the procedure.

The mild procedure takes about an hour. Your provider sends you to the recovery area, and then you go home.

What can I expect during recovery from the mild procedure?

Recovery following the mild procedure varies, but most people resume their usual activities within a day. 

Many patients experience a significant reduction in pain following this minimally invasive back surgery and can stand for longer periods of time and walk farther without weakness or pain. 

Call Advanced Spine and Pain Center or schedule an appointment online today to see if the mild procedure can help you.