If you live with lumbar spinal stenosis, your doctor may have recommended a VertiFlex procedure to ease the symptoms and make your life easier. After all, living with chronic back pain can make even everyday tasks quite daunting, significantly affecting the quality of your life.
Read on to discover how the VertiFlex procedure works, what you can expect, and what are the drawbacks of this treatment.
Is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis a Serious Condition?
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition characterized by the spinal canal narrowing in your lower back. Normally, your vertebrae form an opening for your spinal cord, protecting it and giving your body support and stability. However, sometimes the bone or soft tissues obstruct this opening, which puts pressure on the nerves and spinal cord. That results in pain and other symptoms, depending on the affected area. Depending on the severity of compression, symptoms can vary from mild to disabling. They usually worsen with time if you don’t get the necessary treatment. But how do you know you have lumbar spinal stenosis?What Are the Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Symptoms?
Typical lumbar spinal stenosis symptoms are:- Lower back pain
- Leg or foot weakness
- Cramping
- Intense leg pain after sitting or standing for some time
- Pain that usually gets better when you bend forward
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Coordination issues
What Is the VertiFlex Procedure?
VertiFlex is an FDA-approved, minimally-invasive procedure that aims to reduce the pressure off of compressed nerves. It requires an H-shaped implant placed between vertebrae to create enough space and reduce canal narrowing. This procedure is perfect for people with lumbar spinal stenosis who don’t get the necessary pain relief from medications, injections, and physical therapy. VertiFlex is clinically proven to provide long-term relief from pain and discomfort caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. Although the procedure involves implantation, it is minimally invasive, and it doesn’t require the use of general anesthesia. Because of that, the recovery is quick, and most patients can even go home within the same day of the procedure.What Are the Benefits of VertiFlex Procedure?
VertiFlex Procedure has many benefits:- It is minimally-invasive
- The recovery is quick
- The procedure cost is covered by Medicare and Medicaid
- It is FDA-approved
- It is reversible
- It provides long-term pain relief
- Soft tissue damage is minimized
- The procedure is quick
- It doesn’t impact the spine’s stability
- It preserves a normal range of motion