Living with lumbar spinal stenosis can have a major impact on your quality of life. When the spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves in the lower back, typical everyday movements such as walking, standing, or even getting out of bed can become painful and exhausting.
If you’ve tried conservative treatments without adequate relief, the mild® procedure (minimally invasive lumbar decompression) offers a minimally invasive option to restore mobility and reduce discomfort.
At Pain Management Specialists, our board-certified physicians, Dr. Stuart Hough and Dr. Ramani Peruvemba, specialize in innovative solutions that help patients regain control over their lives.
Here’s what you need to know about the mild® procedure, how it works, and why it’s becoming an important option for many people with spinal stenosis.
Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a condition where the open spaces within your lower spine narrow, creating pressure on the spinal nerves. This typically occurs because of age-related changes such as thickened ligaments, bone overgrowth, or disc degeneration.
Symptoms often include pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs that worsen when standing or walking. For many patients, these symptoms interfere with normal daily activities and diminish quality of life.
Medications, physical therapy, and injections are often the first treatments used to provide some relief. While these approaches may provide temporary relief, they don’t address the root cause, which is the thickened ligaments in the spinal canal that contribute to narrowing. That’s where the mild® procedure comes in.
The mild® procedure is an outpatient treatment that involves removing small pieces of excess ligament tissue through a tiny incision in the lower back. Doing so relieves pressure on the nerves and restores space in the spinal canal.
Unlike traditional spine surgery, mild® doesn’t involve large incisions, stitches, implants, or significant bone removal. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, and most patients go home the same day. Recovery is generally quick, with most patients resuming light activities within 24 hours.
Ideal candidates are individuals with confirmed lumbar spinal stenosis who haven’t found relief with conservative measures. If you experience pain or heaviness in your legs that improves when you sit or lean forward (known as neurogenic claudication), you may benefit from this treatment.
A thorough evaluation, including imaging studies, is necessary to confirm whether mild® is the right approach for you.
Patients often choose mild® because it is safe and effective. Clinical research has shown that mild® can significantly reduce pain and improve walking distance, and offers long-term effectiveness for those with LSS.
Since the procedure is minimally invasive, it carries fewer risks than traditional open surgery and has a shorter recovery time. Additionally, because there is no implant and minimal disruption to surrounding structures, mild® preserves future treatment options if needed.
Chronic pain affects every part of your life, and you need experienced providers who can implement effective solutions. The Pain Management Specialists team combines interventional procedures like mild® with holistic strategies such as physical therapy and lifestyle guidance to help patients achieve long-term relief.
We work closely with your primary care physician, and other specialists to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
If lumbar spinal stenosis is limiting your mobility and keeping you from enjoying life, it’s time to explore your options. Call the Pain Management Specialists team today, or request an appointment online to learn if the mild® procedure is the right option to get you moving forward without pain.
