Living with limited mobility can make even walking or standing a burdensome task. If you are experiencing leg and back pain that worsens with standing but finds relief with leaning forward, you could be experiencing spinal stenosis Memorial Area. Usually, spinal stenosis tends to worsen over time if you do not seek treatment. One treatment procedure may involve Vertiflex, which uses a small spacer inside your spine to relieve pressure off your nerves, thus reducing pain in your back. Treatment with Vertiflex is fast since it is minimally invasive. Read the following article to learn about treatment with Vertiflex.
How Will You Know You Have Spinal Stenosis?
Your symptoms of spinal stenosis will include pain while walking but relief when you sit or bend forward weakness and loss of balance. You may also experience numbness and dull, aching pain that spreads to your legs. Your symptoms will gradually develop and may worsen with walking and standing.
Are You a Candidate for Vertiflex Procedure?
Your doctor may recommend a Vertiflex procedure if your diagnosis confirms spinal stenosis, which may present the symptoms above. Your doctor will evaluate you and determine if the procedure meets your needs. However, you may not be a candidate for this procedure if your nerve roots in the low back are compressed severely. You may also not qualify for this procedure if you have significant weakness, scoliosis, acute fracture, allergy to titanium, and severe osteoporosis.
How Does a Vertiflex Procedure Work?
First, your doctor will inject local anesthesia and then an incision on your lower back. Next, your doctor will place the spacer between your spinous processes and close the incision site. The implanted device will create more space in your spinal cord and nerves without removing bone, thus creating less trauma. Also, the device will help preserve some spine motion and not permanently limit movement. Generally, it may take up to 45 minutes to complete treatment with this procedure.
What Can You Expect After a Vertiflex Procedure?
After treatment, you will likely experience soreness from your incision site. Your doctor will instruct you to keep the incision area clean and dry while waiting for your follow-up session. You may also have to avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, sexual activity, and sporting activities that may force you to move around a lot. Your doctor will advise you to do light activities like walking to help you stay active. Although you may notice immediate relief after the Vertiflex procedure, complete recovery may take up to six weeks.
Are There Risks To a Vertiflex Procedure?
You may experience risks, including the implant moving out of place and bone settling around the implant. Also, your spinous process may fracture when your doctor places the implant, and even after the implantation, you may not receive adequate relief from pain symptoms.
Spinal stenosis is a condition affecting your spinal canal and worsens over time without treatment. Untreated spinal stenosis may cause more spinal canal narrowing, limiting mobility and causing pain and discomfort. A Vertiflex procedure uses an IPD to implant a spacer between your spinous processes to provide immediate relief and improve symptoms of spinal stenosis. The procedure is fast, safe, and minimally invasive, thus offering long-term pain relief from spinal stenosis and improved mobility. You can talk to your doctor to understand how well the procedure works.
