What Is The mild® Procedure?
The mild® Procedure is a minimally invasive treatment option that addresses a major root cause of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). LSS is a degenerative, age-related narrowing of the lower spinal canal that causes symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling or heaviness when standing or walking in the low back, legs, or buttocks. The mild® Procedure treats this condition by removing excess, thickened ligament tissue to restore space in the spinal canal and reduce the pressure on the spinal nerves.
mild® is an early treatment option to consider when conservative therapies such as physical therapy, chiropractic treatments, and epidurals do not provide lasting relief. The short, outpatient mild® Procedure can be performed through a single, tiny incision smaller than the size of a baby aspirin (5.1 mm), and patients can resume normal activity as soon as 24 hours after the procedure. mild® may help patients diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) stand longer and walk farther with less pain by treating the underlying cause of LSS symptoms in a minimally invasive way.
Benefits of the mild® Procedure
1
Outpatient Procedure
Typically performed in less
than 1 hour.
2
Minimally Invasive
Requires no implants, stitches, steroids or opioids.
3
Quick Recovery
Patients typically resume normal activity within 24 hours with no restrictions.
mild® Procedure Results
Patients do not always see immediate results from mild®, and adhering to a walking program post-procedure is important to maximize outcomes. Follow closely with your provider after the procedure to track your progress. Clinical studies show that patients can achieve increased standing time from eight to 56 minutes, and increased walking distance from 246 feet to 3,956 feet.
Not Burning Bridges
mild® may allow elderly patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis to avoid lumbar decompression surgery while providing significant symptomatic relief. In the event that mild does not provide lasting relief, spine surgery is still an option. This positions mild as the next best step after epidural steroid injections, but before invasive surgery.
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How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate for Intracept®?The Intracept® Procedure is indicated for patients who have had: Chronic low back pain for at least six months, Who have tried conservative care for at least six months and whose MRI shows features consistent with Modic changes – indicating damage at the vertebral endplates has led to inflammation. The Intracept Procedure, as with any procedure, has risks that should be discussed between the patient and medical provider.
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How Long Does Pain Relief Last following the Intracept® Procedure?Most people start to feel pain relief within 2 weeks after the procedure. Clinical evidence demonstrates the majority of patients experience significant improvements in function and pain 3-months post procedure that are sustained more than 5 years after a single treatment.
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Is the Intracept® Procedure painful?Some patients experience 2-3 days of soreness after the procedure, but overall it is very well tolerated and most patients return to normal activities 24 hours later.
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What should I expect after the procedure?Most patients report at least 50% improvement of their chronic, vertebrogenic low back pain at 2 weeks after the procedure.
