mild® Procedure for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis in Palm Coast, FL

When the spinal canal narrows, part of what’s crowding it is often ligament that has thickened over the years — and that tissue can be removed through an opening smaller than a pencil eraser.

What it treats

The mild® Procedure addresses one specific, common contributor to a single condition:

It’s aimed at patients whose stenosis is driven in significant part by thickened ligament, and who have leg symptoms that ease when they lean forward — over a shopping cart, a walker, or a kitchen counter.

How it works

The spinal canal is the channel your spinal cord and nerve roots travel through. Lining the back wall of that canal is the ligamentum flavum, a band of connective tissue that supports the spine as it bends. With age, this ligament can thicken substantially, and because it sits inside a fixed bony space, thickening pushes inward and reduces the room available for the nerves.

The mild® Procedure removes small portions of that thickened ligament — along with the small amount of bone needed to reach it — through a single very small opening in the back, using specialized instruments guided by imaging. Restoring space in the canal reduces the crowding that produces leg pain, heaviness, and cramping when you walk or stand.

What isn’t involved matters as well: the spine isn’t opened surgically, no implant or hardware is placed, and nothing remains in your back once the instruments are withdrawn. The opening is small enough to be closed with a bandage rather than stitches.

Dr. Manuel López, a board-certified pain management and rehabilitation physician, performs the procedure under precise image guidance throughout.

What to expect

This is an outpatient procedure — you come in and return home the same day.

• Before: the area is cleaned and numbed. The procedure is done with local anesthetic and light sedation rather than general anesthesia.
• During: working through a small opening under continuous imaging, Dr. López removes portions of the thickened ligament to restore space in the canal.
• After: the site is covered with a bandage. You’ll need someone to drive you home, and Dr. López will give you specific activity guidance for your case.

Recovery varies from patient to patient, and Dr. López would rather give you an honest, personal answer at your consultation than a figure you may not match.

Is it right for you?

The mild® Procedure tends to suit patients who:

• Have lumbar spinal stenosis confirmed on imaging, with thickened ligament identified as a significant contributor
• Get leg pain, heaviness, or cramping when walking or standing that eases when leaning forward or sitting
• Haven’t gotten durable relief from conservative care or epidural injections
• Would prefer to avoid, or aren’t candidates for, open decompression surgery

Imaging drives this decision more than most. If your narrowing comes primarily from bone spurs, spinal instability, or a herniated disc rather than ligament, this procedure won’t address it, and Dr. López will say so and point you toward what would. Bleeding disorders and blood thinners need review as well.

Find out if your imaging fits

Whether this procedure applies to you is largely a question your MRI can answer. Bring it in and get a straight assessment.

Call (386) 222-7746 or request an appointment.