Posted on May 23, 2022
Bette Davis once said, “Old age ain’t no place for sissies!” Although getting older may heighten insight and wisdom, it can be awfully challenging to a body.
The spinal column is designed to serve as the “tree trunk” of sorts, giving support to the entire body. Over time, the spine’s balanced arrangement of bones (vertebrae) and cushions (discs) can wear down. Accidents, injuries or disease can also alter the balanced alignment of the spinal structure or result in fractures.
As with the entire body, nerves are housed within the spinal column. These send pain signals to the brain, indicating that something is wrong.
For older adults experiencing bone loss due to osteoporosis, deterioration of the vertebral structure is a fairly common cause of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS).
The lumbar spine (lower back) consists of five vertebrae. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, compressing on nerves that run through the lower back and into (typically) one leg.
Over time, the discs become less spongy, resulting in loss of disc height. This can cause the disc to bulge into the spinal canal. Bone spurs may also occur and ligaments can thicken, leading to a narrowing of the innermost canal and nerve compression.
Low back pain may be accompanied by:
Fortunately, advanced options are available to relieve the symptoms associated with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, without surgery.
A patient of Advanced Pain Management & Spine Specialists (APMSS), Mary (not her real name) was able to stay comfortable in spite of LSS. Dr. Jonathan Daitch, a Board Certified Interventional Pain Management physician, gave Mary periodic injections for several years.
The injections calmed inflammation caused by pressure on specific nerves. However, the effectiveness of the injections began to wane. Eventually, Mary could stand no more than a few minutes without having pain.
Now at the age of 94, Mary was hopeful for an option to help her move comfortably during the day. With resumed pain in her lower back that was extending down one leg, Dr. Daitch ordered an updated MRI. Upon his review, he noted a thickening ligament was causing added pressure.
Dr. Daitch and Dr. Ivan Samcam, also of APMSS, presented Mary with another option for more extended pain relief.
MILD®, an acronym for Minimally-Invasive Lumbar Decompression, is an outpatient procedure that has provided long-term results for many APMSS patients. It relieves pressure in the spinal canal by removing excess ligament tissue.
The MILD procedure is quick (about 30 mins. for most patients) and performed through an incision that is less than an inch. And, it is covered by Medicare nationwide.
MILD results are typically experienced within a few days, providing:
MILD® also has a low complication risk. It has proven to be as safe as an injection with over 20,000 patients treated to date.
Dr. Samcam explained the procedure in detail to Mary. She states, “I appreciate the way Dr. Samcam talked to me and answered all my questions.” After their conversation, she felt fully confident in his recommendation.
The procedure was performed in the APMSS facility’s Park Center for Procedures. During this, Mary relaxed in a “twilight sleep” state for complete comfort throughout. Afterwards, she returned home to relax for the remainder of the day.
Within several days, Mary was moving without the low back and affected leg pain she had endured before. She was walking further and moving more comfortably.
At Advanced Pain Management & Spine Specialists, Southwest Florida residents have access to some of the most advanced technology in the country.