I am looking for information on the MILD procedure and pros and cons from anyone who might know something about it. i would like to look into it as alternative to the more invasive surgery that has been given to me as an option if conservative measures do not work .
This is a summary of my MRI which was taken 12/2009 --significant degenerative disc space narrowing at L3-L4 with circumferential disc protrusion and mild left lateral disc protrusion without nerve root entrapment and degenerative disc space narrowing at L4-L5 with grade I spondylolisthesis due to facet arthropathy. Also a moderate degree of spinal stenosis due to facet hypertrophy, ligatnentum flavum hypertrophy, and disc protrusion and a moderate degree of lateral extension of the disc at this disc level with slight elevation of exiting nerve root on both sides, but greater on the right, suggesting there may be nerve root entrapment and mild central disc protrusion at L5-S1 without appreciable mass effect.
What are the success rates, pros/cons, any restrictions on who can have the procedure? Any info would be greatly appreciate. thanks
What can anyone telll me about the procedure MILD, Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression?
Question posted by jlbyrd on 25 Feb 2011
Last updated on 15 October 2019
6 Answers
I have a very similar condition to yours. The pain was so intenese and no pain meds helped with the pain. I wasn't able to sleep and walking and standng was torture. I ended up opting for the surgery. They shaved my spine to make room for the nerve and spinal cord and removed the L5-S1 disc. Unfortunately it was to late and the impenged nerve is refusing to heal and the pain is only increasing and I am now disabled due to it. I have canal stenosis with hypertrophy and bulging discs that were not addressed yet. I am under the care of a new group of physicians but they want to put me on cancer pain meds and go from there. I wouldn't wait or play with this. I would find the best ortho surgeon in your area and ask his advice. My choices were surgery or pain management for the rest of my life and I didn't want to be on pain pills for the rest of my life but now it looks as though I will.
I did have chiropractors tell me they could help without surgery but I didn't believe them. Especially after 5 specialists agreed that surgery was my best option. Good luck.
You almost need a neurosurgeon to do this IMO. I had an ALIF 360 5 years ago which has resulted in spinal stenosis. Considered mild at this point but very painful. My pain is nocturnal. It wakes me every morning at 5 AM on the dot. I am tapering off 50 mcg fentanyl and on to Oxycontin. 2.5 years on transdermal fentanyl is effecting my mind. I am down 29% on the fentanyl dose and I can fell my regular thought processes returning. Fentanyl might be alright for cancer patients with a 2 year window left to live but long term... forget it.
I am going for the MILD procedure but I have a lot of complications that are not being addressed. Facet inflammation, (had a 4 level ablation done a year ago. It helped about 85 %. No neurosurgeon wants to do open surgery because I might lose bowel or bladder control. Scary stuff.
I have not had the surgery you are asking about because my Spondylolisthesis is a grade 5, at L5 S1 and has resulted in many complications all over my spine ... my comment is about what HAS helped me : Spinal Cord Stimulators by St. Jude Medical. I have 2 of them and have gained much relief of pain in my lower back and Sciatic break thru pain. My second stimulator is wired from just between my shoulder blades to the base of my skull, although NOT as effective, I would NEVER part with either one of them. I hope this helps some of you, I am always happy to talk with anyone that is in need of relief - NO ONE can ever imagine our pain unless they have it. Good Luck and NEVER GIVE UP ! Marilyn
Has anyone had the MILD procedure for lumber stenosis? I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks
I read your question which was posted almost a year ago. I have a lumber stenosis at L-5 & S-1. My pain doctor wants to do the MILD procedure. He just started doing them & I am hesitant since the procedure is new. I was wondering if you had MILD & what was the outcome.
Thanks
Hey folks,
Try going to the site:
http://www.lessinvasivespine.com/
It gives a nice description of this type surgery and on the left margin you can click on patient reviews and read about what others who have had the surgery say about it.
I wish you all the best of luck. Keep in touch and let us know how it goes,
Laurie
Sorry the link got cut off above so you will have to type the address in by hand.
Hope this helps!!
I just saw my ortho surgeon yesterday and he described very similiar problem with me, although you detail it out better. My dc wasn't as detailed with me, but did say the procedure included a scraping of the bone in the L5-S1 region thereby creating more space. Does this sound like the same procedure? If so, I am thinking of getting it done.
Are you in a lot of pain? My brother-in-law had it done, and he did not hesitate to do it and is better off now. But I would also like to hear some better answers than mine :). Cathleen
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