For those of us not living with chronic pain, there are so many simple things that we often take for granted. Things like standing up or walking, for example. Imagine that for a moment – you wake up in the morning and can’t even get out of bed without suffering severe pain. The physical and emotional toll would be terrible and it would be nearly impossible to make it through a normal day. This is the exact situation that Sonya Lenzo found herself in, until an incredible new treatment offered the chance to turn it all around.
The Beginning
Sonya Lenzo had been living with chronic pain in her lower back and hips for over a year. She could only stand or walk for a few minutes at a time before the pain became to much. She could occasionally find some relief by sitting or laying down, or by applying heat. But the relief was only temporary, and sitting or laying all the time was no way to spend her days. She had tried several therapies to treat the pain, including chiropractic work, acupuncture, physical therapy, and massage, but none of them could provide adequate relief.
Earlier on, when this pain was just starting, Sonya had already been a patient at Twin Cities Pain Clinic for a couple of years. She has been seeing Nancy Cleveland, CNP about a different area of pain. When asked how that original pain was feeling, Sonya stated that she could barely notice it, because the new pain in her low back and right hip was so bad that it was all she noticed. That is when Nancy recommended a procedure called MILD.
The MILD Procedure
The MILD procedure is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment designed to relieve pain caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). It is a short, outpatient procedure performed through a very small incision. Special tools are inserted through the incision and used to remove excess buildup of material in the spinal canal. This reduces compression on the spinal nerves, relieving pain and improving overall mobility.
The procedure is typically performed in less than one hour and requires no general anesthesia, no implants, and no stitches. You can generally resume regular activities within a day or two.
A New, Pain-Free Life For Sonya
Sonya was nervous about the procedure because she had undergone surgeries in the past and didn’t want to go through it again. But after speaking with Nancy more about the MILD procedure and doing her own reading, she decided to move forward.
Only a couple hours after arriving at the surgery center, Sonya was already dressed and heading home. There was a new energy about Sonya that everyone could see. When asked about her pain, she said it was at a zero out of 10. This was remarkable considering it had been an eight out of 10 prior to the procedure. Her pain had literally disappeared!
When Sonya was asked what she was most looking forward to after the MILD procedure, she responded with, “I’m simply looking forward to being able to walk to the local library, just one block from my house. I love to read and get new books, so that is first on my list!”
