Patient Stories |
Additional Videos |
Linda Cisco.
Before the Procedure
A longtime hiking and outdoor enthusiast, Linda noticed her spinal stenosis symptoms long before discovering her diagnosis. There was fatigue, which was surprising given the mileage she was used to hiking. Simple things—like bending over or getting out of bed—began taking more effort and got more painful. Then lack of stamina on trails and even grocery shopping became an issue. There were no more marital “moments of abandon.” Eventually radiating leg pain left her unable to function and required treatment with an epidural. Linda’s symptoms gradually accelerated as the procedure approached.
Click here to watch Linda's pre-mild Story.
After the Procedure
These days Linda appreciates the ease with which she can once again do simple things, like roll over in one motion and give her husband a kiss and a hug “good morning,” then turn over on the other side and get right up out of bed. She can now do floor exercises and back stretches, then get up without using the furniture. She can stay on her feet for hours without sitting to rest. For Linda, the mild procedure was both minimally invasive and “life-changing.” Describing the effects, she said, “You have no stitches or scarring, and so little discomfort. Now it’s hard for me to imagine what I can’t do.”
Click here to watch Linda's post-mild Story.
Syd Klein.
Syd Klein wanted the back and leg pain out of his life. Concerned about what he described as "the horrors of back surgery," he had tried unsuccessfully to find relief in other solutions. See Syd describe how he finally found an end to his pain through the mild procedure.
Click here to watch Syd's Story.
Angelo Lunetta.
The 61 years Angelo Lunetta worked as a barber were enjoyable—all except for the back problems. On a scale of 1 to 10, his back pain felt like a 9.5.
Yet when Angelo first heard about the mild procedure, he was afraid to try it. But once his doctor told him he could be in a wheelchair within a year or so, he went ahead with it. After the simple procedure was complete, his pain was gone and he could walk normally again.
Now Angelo is telling everyone about mild. “It’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me.”
Click here to watch Angelo's post-mild Story.
Charles Merz.
An avid golfer with a 30-year military career, Charles Merz had always led an active life. But by age 87, he was experiencing ongoing numbness and pain in his legs and feet. He was unable to sit for very long and even became unsure about walking. Periodic epidural steroid treatments helped alleviate the symptoms, but the remedy was only temporary and it wasn't long before his discomfort returned.
An MRI scan revealed the cause was lumbar spinal stenosis: matter had built up in his spine, constricting the blood vessels and putting pressure on the nerves. The mild procedure was recommended as a minimally invasive outpatient treatment that would go right to the source of the problem, and Charles agreed to undergo the procedure.
It was one of the best decisions he's made in a long time. The mild procedure took approximately 20 minutes, only a local anesthetic was needed, and Charles reported no pain whatsoever during the surgery. Afterwards, he simply got in the car and went right home. He actually felt well enough to drive on his own, but the doctor insisted his wife take him.
To Charles, the most painful part of the whole process was pulling the bandage off the next day. He was back on the golf course in no time. Charles considers mild "a real life-saver." Now, at 88, he still enjoys golfing at least once a week.
Tony Savino.
Tony Savino had enjoyed woodworking his whole life. But by age 89, back and leg pain left him unable to stand for more than a few minutes at a time. He had been suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis for about a year, but family members didn't realize it.
Everyone assumed his pain and lack of mobility was simply a result of growing older. As his condition progressively worsened, Tony complained frequently of debilitating pain. He needed a walker to get around, and later a wheelchair.
The pain started to affect his appetite, and he didn't even want to get out of bed. When a compression fracture (unrelated to his LSS) necessitated an emergency room visit, his condition was finally diagnosed and the mild procedure was recommended.
Back surgery sounded like a major ordeal, especially at his age. Some family members weren't sure if he could recover. But less than two hours after the brief mild procedure, with only a small bandage covering the tiny incision, Tony was able to walk out of the hospital on his own. His pain was relieved immediately, as if nothing had happened. Thanks to the mild procedure, Tony can walk without assistance again. His family feels like "Tony is back." And so is his appetite for life.
