Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can cause back pain, tingling and numbness. For mild to moderate spinal stenosis, treatment options include a non-surgical procedure called mild, which stands for minimally invasive lumbar decompression.
This procedure specifically targets the thickening of a tissue called the ligamentum flavum, which causes an encroachment around the spinal cord. During the procedure, we debulk, or remove, some of the extra tissue inside the ligamentum flavum.
The mild procedure is relatively safe compared with spine surgery for someone with mild to moderate spinal stenosis. When you have severe stenosis, however – even moderate to severe stenosis – surgery is the correct treatment option.
I provide more detail about the mild procedure in the video below:
Learn about other nonsurgical treatment options for back pain in the videos below:
- Radiofrequency Ablation for Lower Back Pain, Knee Pain and Headaches
- Back Pain Relief: Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Compression Fracture Treatments: Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
To find out if the mild procedure is right for you, please make an appointment by calling 913-319-7600.
About the Author
C. Lan Fotopoulos, M.D. is an interventional physiatrist specializing in minimally invasive and interventional procedures in the treatment of spinal disorders, including epidural injections, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation and sacroplasty.
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The medical information contained in the Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedics website is provided to increase your knowledge and understanding of orthopedic conditions. This information should not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific medical or surgical treatment plan. As each patient may have specific symptoms or associated problems, the treatment regimen for a specific patient may not be the proper treatment for another.
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