Vertiflex for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
What is lumbar spinal stenosis?
Inside your spine is a channel called the spinal canal, which is surrounded by a boney vertebrae and contains and protects the spinal cord. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a gradual narrowing of the space in the spine that nerves pass through. Sometimes as we age, the joints of the spine slowly start to deteriorate which can cause a variety of symptoms including bulging discs, thickening of spinal ligaments, enlarged joints, and bone spurs. LSS can result in aching, dull back pain spreading down the buttocks and into the legs, along with shooting pains, numbness, tingling and/or weakness of the legs.
What is the Vertiflex Procedure?
Vertiflex is a minimally invasive stand-alone interspinous process decompression (IPD) procedure approved by the FDA designed to relieve back pain by restoring the normal space in the vertebrae. IPD involves implanting a type of spacer, such as the Superion®, between the spinous processes, which are the thin, bony projections on the back of the spine. This simple procedure is performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation/anesthesia on an outpatient basis and is a good solution for back and leg pain patients for whom medications or injections have failed to provide lasting relief. This procedure provides stenosis sufferers freedom to get on with daily living without the burden of pain. Plus the Vertiflex Procedure is clinically proven for effective, long-term relief from the pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).
What are the symptoms of LSS?
For most people, symptoms develop gradually and are often made worse by standing and walking. The symptoms of LSS include:
- Experiencing back and/or leg pain while walking
- Feeling pain relief when sitting or bending forward
- Needing support like a cane, walker or a shopping cart to move around comfortably
- Suffering from weakness of legs and/or loss of balance
- A numbness, tingling or cramping feeling in your legs, calves, or buttocks
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Headache and Pain Center, amc uses open MRI and X-ray technology to verify that you are a good candidate for treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.
To speak with a pain relief specialist about your symptoms, call or book your appointment online today.
