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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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I had the M.I.L.D. procedure on L4-L5 on December 12. Today marks five weeks since the procedure, which in itself was a piece of cake. Worse part was lying prone for the half hour it took, as my arthritis is advanced. After the operation, I got up, walked to the elevator and down to the cafeteria and had some lunch. Pain no worse than it was before the procedure, maybe even a little less, which I attribute to the minimal anesthetic they administered. I was awake and speaking to the doctor through the duration. A pain interventionist specialist performed the operation. They are generally considered the best physicians for these minimally invasive procedures because they do them routinely and frequently.
My stenosis at L4-L5 was moderate except for severe right neuroforaminal stenosis. I also have arthritis and a disc bulge in that area. I am so sorry you experienced such terrible pain after the procedure. As a gymnast you had some surgeries, so could some other aspect of your spine (besides the stenosis) be causing it? Has your doctor told you that the stenosis is/was the main cause of your pain? According to my doctor, the M.I.L.D. is meant to enable the patient to stand and walk for longer periods of time, but he didn't promise me it would totally rid me of my back pain. I am 89 years old, never had any surgeries on my back, just steroid injections that didn't work.
After three weeks I noticed one day that I was able to stand and walk somewhat better. Then things sort of went back to the usual. A couple of days ago I again noticed improvement in standing and walking. I seem to be improving and hope that will increase with time, as they say it sometimes can take 3 to 6 months for the full effect, whatever that may be, since everyone's results can't be expected to be the same. I am still walking bent over with arthritis.
I have a daily 20-minute regimen of stretching, core exercises, and lumbar stenosis stretches that I know helps some. Some people do P.T. after the procedure, but I didn't find that necessary.
I plan to have another minimally invasive procedure as soon as they allow it. It's called the Intracept Procedure for Basivertebral Nerve Ablation, and it treats arthritis.
I wish everyone in this group the very best results and better health from the M.I.L.D.
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1 ReactionThank you for informing me of your adventure with MILD. I'm trying to be patient but I am disappointed that I have had no relief. Gymnastics is hard on the body and I have a high tolerance to pain. But I am getting so tired of it. I have had multiple injuries over the years and surgeries, including shoulder surgery, multiple knee surgeries and bilateral knee replacements. I think my disappointment is because I was led to believe that I would experience pain relief almost immediately.
@judymehaffey
Just take it day by day or hour by hour if need be.
Recovery is not linear unfortunately.
Is your pain sciatica or back?
@judymehaffey I am sorry and not a little surprised that a practitioner would tell you to expect immediate relief from the MILD. None of the medical explanations of the procedure I have read promise that.
Maybe, after three months or so, you could look for someone for another opinion on the status of your back.
I'm trying to stay hopeful. Thanks for reaching out to me.
@jlssurplus Constant L4-L5 stenosis back pain when standing and walking. I get relief when sitting. I'm doing my best to hang in there.
@judymehaffey
So in the back not running down your legs?
Years ago when I first discovered the stenosis I had sciatic pain. Prior to the injections for there stenosis I had dry needling. That relieves the shooting sciatic pain but did nothing for the stenosis. I then had the injections which eventually resolved the pain for about 8 years.
@tonyst
@rayshir5052