What is lumbar spinal stenosis and the mild procedure?

WHAT IS LSS?

A condition in which the lower spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal nerves in the lower back
Best visualized as a “kink in a drinking straw,” this compression can contribute to pain and mobility issues

HOW COMMON IS LSS?

Over two million LSS patients nationwide are diagnosed and treated annually
Generally found in people over the age of 50
The likelihood of developing LSS increases with age

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF LSS?

The natural wear and tear on the spine as people age can lead to a number of contributing factors that cause the narrowing of the spinal canal and create pressure on the spinal nerves:

Thickening of ligament tissue
Overgrowth of bone (osteoarthritis)
Bulging of discs

HOW IS LSS DIAGNOSED?

In addition to taking a medical history that includes a list of your symptoms, other tests may be performed to verify LSS:

Physical examinations to test mobility
Imaging: X-rays, MRI, CT scan

TRADITIONAL TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR LSS?

Physical therapy to help decrease the frequency and severity of symptoms
Medications: Including neuropathic pain medications such as Gabapentin, NSAID medications, or muscle relaxers.
Activity modification, such as taking more sitting breaks throughout the day
Spinal surgery to decompress the spinal canal. This incorporates an invasive procedure with a long recovery time.

When Epidural Steroid Injections are no longer working!

mild® is a short, outpatient treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) that restores space in the spinal canal to help improve back and leg pain.* Using specialized tools and imaging, mild® addresses a major root cause of LSS by removing thickened ligament through an incision smaller than the size of baby aspirin, leaving no implants behind, only a Band-Aid.

The minimally invasive mild® Procedure has a safety profile similar to epidural steroid injections but with lasting results, and patients typically return to normal activity within 24 hours with no restrictions.* mild® is covered nationwide by Medicare (all ages, all plan types, including Medicare Advantage) the VA, U.S. Military & IHS. Commercial coverage varies.

A short video demonstrating the procedure can be found here