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MILD procedure scheduled. Comments, please?
My mom is 87 years old, and she has had Spinal Stenosis for years. Her MRI shows severe stenosis on L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5. It is now that she has become unable to walk without a cane and walker. She's much slower now and much more pain. Her doctor recommended the minimal invasive lumbar decompression (MILD) procedure to clear out the stenosis area. I'd like to know if anyone has had this procedure done. If so, how was recovery after procedure (quick and easy? long and hard?), and did the procedure work for you....a little, a lot? Please post your comments....she is presently scheduled for the procedure on May 23, 2024.
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Is it possible that the post procedure plans have improved? No one here mentioned water therapy. I need to walk more than 2 1/2 minutes before sitting. Life seems pretty grim to me right now.
Also is it possible that the technique has improved to increase a more positive outcome than I am reading here.
Question:
What has been your Outcome of MILD procedure and have you had any short and long term issues?
I have scheduled 10/20/25 but a little hesitant as outpatient (in/out same day 6am-2pm aprox) from hospital and not at spine specialist office (as i had thought initially), as he usually does for steroid injections, which dont work anymore on lumbar area.
Would the DISCSEEL cash/cr card/or finance, procedure by Dr Pauza, inventor, though not Medicare approved yet, be best?
Would you recommend this to others? I'm considering the procedure.
Thank you for the post. How long did it take for the pain to go away? Did you feel better right away or did it take time? I'm caregiving a family member who had it about 2-3 weeks ago and is a bit discouraged that the pain has not subsided. She had it done on L-4-L5 I believe.
My husband had the MILD procedure done in March 2025 and he had instant relief and still no pain in his buttock and down his leg. Of course he still has back pain but getting this procedure has helped him a lot. We are praying it continues to help forever 🙏🏼
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2 ReactionsThinking of it if it helps
Very indecisive
Has helped my husband since March 2025. 🤞🏼
@coldwinter12
I had it done 8/20, L2-L5, Was depressing at 1st. (still kinda is) I did not start getting any relief until about week 5,
Now at 9 weeks my left leg has improved a lot, my right leg not so much, but it had been the worst/longest pain there. Starting PT now so hopefully that helps some.
I do ok during the day after getting loosened up. Mornings and evenings are miserable but I just keep moving.
I would do it again, I had gotton to the point of hardley being able to walk with a cane and having to sit after walking halfway through house.
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1 Reaction@shar1120
I would do it again even though my relief is not what I wanted/expected.
It is a pretty low risk surgery and the pain from surgery itself was actually less than the daily sciatic pain I had been dealing with.
Recovery was pretty quick
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1 Reaction@jlssurplus
Thank you. This is helpful. What I'm reading is there is a spectrum of recovery, and sometimes very slow results. My mom had it done in Sept. There was some relief, but she is still having back and leg pain and tingling in the feet. She started PT this week. Fingers crossed for more recovery. She is currently using a walker.