Mild Procedure

The minimally invasive lumbar decompression (mild®) procedure is a leading-edge treatment for back pain. The Pain Management Centers of New England team may recommend mild for long-lasting pain relief if you're struggling with exhausting back pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis. To learn more about this remarkably effective procedure, call any of the three locations in Gloucester, Danvers, or Newburyport, Massachusetts, or click on the online scheduler now.

What is the mild procedure?

Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (mild®) is an outpatient procedure that treats chronic back and leg pain due to lumbar spinal stenosis. 

In lumbar spinal stenosis, the spinal canal narrows over time. This puts more pressure on the nerves there, causing pain and other issues. The mild procedure creates more space in your spinal canal, relieving the pressure.

Many treatment options for lumbar spinal stenosis require large incisions, general anesthesia, steroid injections, or opioid medications. The mild procedure requires none of those and has only a tiny incision shorter than the width of a baby aspirin.

How does the mild procedure work?

In the mild procedure, you receive local anesthesia. The team creates a tiny incision in your back and moves a thin port (flexible hollow tube) through it. They guide the port to the ligamentum flavum, the ligaments within your spinal canal that thicken to cause lumbar spinal stenosis.

Once at the site of the ligament, the team threads specialized thin tools through the port and carefully removes excess ligament tissue to make more space in your spinal column. Then, they remove the port and place a bandage on the incision.

Am I a good candidate for the mild procedure?

The mild procedure resolves symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis such as:

• Low back pain when walking or standing
• Radiating leg pain
• Numbness in your buttocks or legs
• Cramping in your calves
• Tingling in your buttocks or legs when walking

Many people with lumbar spinal stenosis notice that pain lessens when they bend forward or curl up in a fetal position in bed. Of course, avoiding every movement that causes pain or other symptoms is not realistic— thanks to the mild procedure, you don’t have to.

If you’ve already tried conservative treatments and your symptoms are still disruptive, you could be an ideal candidate for the mild procedure. 

What results can I expect from the mild procedure?

You can typically return to normal activities within just 24 hours. The mild procedure offers impressive success rates, with nearly 90% of patients experiencing dramatic pain relief and avoiding surgical decompression for at least five years. 

Studies also show that patients with the mild procedure can stand seven times longer than before.

To learn more about how this exciting new minimally invasive treatment option can help you, call Pain Management Centers of New England or click on the online scheduling feature now.