Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) eases lower back pain from pinched nerves in the lower part of the spine. The orthopedic spine surgeons at Medicus Spine & Joint in Brunswick, Georgia; Mount Pleasant and Bluffton, South Carolina; and Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, Florida, perform MILD to help their back pain patients get relief from their discomfort. To find out more about MILD and how it might help your lower back pain, call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.
Minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) is a type of surgery that decreases pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord to reduce irritation and compression that causes pain.
When performing MILD, the orthopedic surgeons at Medicus Spine & Joint use advanced tools and techniques to minimize incision size and body damage. This results in smaller scars, less post-surgical pain, and a shorter recovery.
After a consultation, the orthopedic surgeons at Medicus Spine & Joint determine if you’re a candidate for MILD. They perform the procedure to treat age-related changes to the spine that cause bone spurs.
Your orthopedic spine surgeon reviews your symptoms and medical history and requests imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to evaluate your spine and determine the cause of your symptoms.
If you have age-related changes in the lumbar spine and bone spurs that irritate your spinal nerves or spinal cord, your surgeon may recommend minimally invasive lumbar decompression.
The experts at Medicus Spine & Joint first talk to you about your condition and treatment options so you can make an informed decision about how you want to proceed.
The orthopedic spine surgeons at Medicus Spine & Joint customize your MILD surgery.
For minimally invasive lumbar decompression, they make small incisions outside the body near the area of your spine undergoing surgery. They insert small instruments through the incision they control outside the body and remove the excess bone from the spine.
They may also do a spinal fusion following minimally invasive lumbar decompression, which involves fusing the vertebral bones to stop painful movements.
Recovery time after MILD varies. Your spine surgeon may admit you to the hospital following your minimally invasive lumbar decompression to support recovery during the first few days. They help you get out of bed and walk within the first day.
Before sending you home, your surgeon gives you instructions on exercises to do at home to support your recovery. You may resume most of your usual activities within a few days and have improvements in pain within a few weeks.
Full recovery from MILD may take several weeks.
To find out more about minimally invasive lumbar decompression and how it may help ease your lower back pain, call Medicus Spine & Joint today or book an appointment online.