MILD Procedure in Monterey

What Is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis & What Causes It?

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) is a common condition associated with aging where the spinal canal narrows, putting pressure on the spinal nerves in your lower back.

A leading cause of this narrowing is the overgrowth or thickening of the ligamentum flavum (a key ligament inside the spinal canal). As this ligament thickens, it squeezes the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in symptoms known as neurogenic claudication:

• Pain, aching, or weakness in the lower back, hips, buttocks, or legs when standing or walking.
• Quick relief when sitting down, bending forward, or leaning over a shopping cart (the “shopping cart sign”).
• Severe limits on how far or how long you can walk comfortably.

How the MILD® Procedure Works

The MILD® procedure is designed to remove the root cause of spinal canal compression without compromising the structural stability of your spine.

Using continuous fluoroscopic (real-time X-ray) imaging through a tiny incision—about the size of a pencil eraser—your physician uses specialized, micro-sized tools to gently remove small pieces of excess, thickened ligament.

By removing this excess tissue, MILD® restores space in the spinal canal and relieves pressure on the spinal nerves—all without implants, stitches, general anesthesia, or spinal fusion.

Key Benefits of the MILD® Procedure

• Minimally Invasive & Outpatient: Performed through a single tiny incision requiring only a small bandage—no stitches needed.
• No General Anesthesia: Completed safely under local anesthesia with light sedation in less than an hour.
• Preserves Spinal Architecture: Requires no bone removal, spinal fusion, or permanent hardware implants.
• Rapid Recovery: Most patients go home the same day and resume light daily activities within 24 to 48 hours.
• Covered by Medicare: MILD® is covered nationwide by Medicare and many commercial insurance carriers when medically necessary.

The Care Journey: What to Expect

1. Diagnostic Evaluation & Imaging Review: Kroopf and our clinical team evaluate your symptoms and review your lumbar MRI to confirm that thickened ligamentum flavum is contributing to your spinal stenosis.
2. The Outpatient Procedure: On procedure day, you will relax comfortably in our outpatient suite while your physician performs the image-guided decompression.
3. Synergistic Post-Procedure Recovery: Following your procedure, we support your return to active living by integrating recovery therapies such as Infrared Red Light Sauna, targeted Peptide Protocols, and structured mobility assessments.

Is MILD® Right for You?

You may be an ideal candidate for the MILD® procedure if:

• You experience lower back or leg pain while standing or walking.
• Leaning forward or sitting down relieves your symptoms.
• MRI results confirm lumbar spinal stenosis with thickened ligament tissue.
• You want to avoid major spine surgery or spinal fusion.

Walk Farther and Stand Taller

Reclaim your independence and mobility without major spine surgery.