Hundreds of thousands of adults in the United States struggle with spinal stenosis, a degenerative spine condition that can make even simple daily routines painful and difficult. While stenosis can affect any part of your spine, it frequently happens in your lumbar spine, or lower back region.
At Superior Pain Relief, Zaid Malik, MD, and his team take an individualized, patient-centered approach to lumbar spinal stenosis and its treatment, tailoring every treatment plan toward long-lasting pain relief and improved mobility.
For many patients, the answer is a minimally invasive lumbar decompression procedure known as MILD®. Here’s what you should know.
Spinal stenosis happens when the space inside your spinal canal narrows, putting pressure on the nerves that travel along your spine. Lumbar stenosis affects the lower part of your back — the lumbar spine. In fact, lumbar stenosis is one of the causes of a common type of chronic and acute lower back pain: sciatica.
Narrowing in the spinal canal can have several causes. Arthritis and other age-related changes cause bone spurs and thickened ligaments that in turn reduce the space inside the canal. Some people are born with narrow spinal canals. Age-related wear and tear contributes, too.
The lower back can be especially prone to painful stenosis symptoms because it’s also subjected to added pressure and strain from simple activities like walking and standing.
Because nerves are involved, you may have symptoms like burning or tingling in addition to sharp or dull pain. Symptoms can radiate into your hips, legs, or even your feet — any area served by the nerves that exit your lower spine. Severe stenosis can lead to problems with balance and coordination, along with symptoms of bladder or bowel incontinence.
Many people with chronic lower back pain try relieving symptoms with conservative options like over-the-counter medications, injections, and physical therapy. While these options may provide temporary relief, they don’t address the underlying cause of pain, and over time, they tend to become less effective.
Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) is different. This advanced procedure targets thickened tissue pressing on nerves, creating more space around the nerves and relieving compression. By focusing on the root cause of your pain, MILD achieves more meaningful, long-lasting relief.
In fact, studies show that MILD carries a safety profile comparable to steroid injections but often delivers longer-lasting results. Some patients who undergo MILD may be able to avoid more invasive surgical procedures altogether.
As with other minimally invasive surgeries, MILD uses a very small incision to access the area of compression. There’s no need for general anesthesia and its potential risks with MILD; instead, we use a local anesthetic and sedation to keep you comfortable.
During your procedure, we make an incision in your back that’s just large enough to insert MILD’s special portal device. Imaging helps us guide the device to the precise location for optimal results.
We use the portal to remove only the tissue that’s necessary to relieve compression, leaving surrounding tissue unaffected. There’s no removal of bone, no implants, and minimal disruption to the surrounding structures.
You go home the same day after a brief recovery period. Because MILD is minimally invasive, you can expect a faster recovery compared to traditional decompression surgery — you begin walking around shortly after your procedure, gradually returning to your regular routine over the following days and weeks.
Back pain due to spinal stenosis can make each day feel like a challenge, but there are solutions that can help. Could the MILD procedure be the answer to your lower back pain?
To learn how we can help you find a treatment solution based on your health needs, lifestyle, and mobility goals, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Malik and the team at Superior Pain Relief in Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas, today.
