Innovative treatment options

If you are experiencing lower back pain, numbness or tingling in the legs, you might have a condition called Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS), and now Coastal Spine and Pain Center offers a non-surgical treatment to help. LSS patients have a spinal canal that narrows and compresses the spinal cord nerves in their lower back, causing pain, numbness, or tingling in the legs, lower back or buttocks.

Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD) is an outpatient procedure that has a low complication risk, can be performed without general anesthesia, and has an excellent success rate. During the procedure, the physician enters through a tiny incision in the back and uses specialized tools to remove small pieces of bone and excess ligament. This allows for the restoration of space in the spinal canal, which decreases the compression of the nerves, reduces pain and restores mobility.

This FDA-cleared procedure has allowed patients who undergo it to see a 53 percent pain reduction (MiDAS I study) and even an increase in their standing time from 8 to 56 minutes according to a Cleveland Clinic study. MILD patients were also able to resume light activity in a matter of days. The overall procedure is performed in under an hour, and patients can return to their homes the same day.

If you are suffering with LSS, give us a call to find out how we can help you through MILD or other innovative treatments for your pain.

Christopher Netzel

M.D.

Gary Kao

M.D.

Michael Greene

D.O.

Disc degeneration that most commonly occurs in the low back (lumbar spine region) is one of the most common causes of pain in the lower back. Pressure on the spine can make you unable to do certain movements such as leaning forward. After determining that you have disc degeneration, one option Coastal Spine and Pain physicians might suggest is the latest VIA Disc NP procedure.

When wear and tear of intervertebral discs occur, they lose hydration and degenerate. With the VIA Disc NP procedure, processed human nucleus pulposus tissue allograft is injected to supplement and restore hydration to the disc. This procedure is non-surgical and completed by our Coastal Spine and Pain physicians on an outpatient basis. Inquire to see if this procedure is right for you.

Michael Greene

D.O.

Gary Kao

M.D.

Debilitating chronic pain sufferers can find relief with peripheral nerve stimulation, often known as PNS therapy. Peripheral nerve stimulation uses electrical energy to block specific nerves from sending pain signals to the brain. This treatment is multifaceted in that it is known for reducing pain in patients with nerve trauma, post-operative joint pain, post-joint replacement pain, low back pain, inoperable joint pain, complex regional pain syndrome, various mononeuropathies or damage to their nerves, or who are post-amputation.

Almost 75 percent of patients who receive PNS therapy obtain pain relief of at least 50 percent, and for some, this lasts several years beyond the treatment. Peripheral nerve stimulation can be used effectively to manage both acute and chronic pain. Stimulation for up to 60 days can provide sustained relief from pain to patients who use this therapy.

To see if peripheral nerve stimulation is the right course of treatment for your chronic pain, contact Coastal Spine and Pain Center to make an appointment.

Michael Greene

D.O.

Gary Kao

M.D.

The sacroiliac (SI) joint is a large joint in the lower back. When it becomes painful, surrounding areas like the abdomen, hip, buttock, groin, or leg area can be affected. SI joint pain is usually treated first with physical therapy, injections and medications. But if those non-surgical options are ineffective, surgery may be recommended to treat sacroiliac joint pain that is too much to handle.

In an SI Joint Fusion, the SI joint’s motion is eliminated by fusing the two bones with metal hardware, making the joint more stable. Your surgical team will continue working with you after the fusion to see if you need to continue any treatments to help the bones heal together after surgery.

To diagnose if you are a candidate for a SI Joint Fusion, we will inject an anesthetic into the joint to diagnose whether the sacroiliac joint is truly responsible for the pain you feel. We will then determine if an SI joint fusion is your best option.

If you are experiencing SI joint pain that isn’t being helped with other treatments, come schedule a consultation with our Coastal Spine and Pain Center physicians.

Michael Greene

D.O.

Gary Kao

M.D.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) is a degenerative condition of the lumbar spine. As we age, the soft tissue or “discs” between the vertebrae (bones that make up the spine) become worn down. This causes the spinal canal to narrow which can put pressure on the nerves in the lower back. This pressure can lead to radiating leg, buttock, and/or groin pain. People with LSS typically cannot walk farther than 50 feet without feeling this pain and find relief when sitting down or leaning forward. This pain can worsen over time if left untreated.

A solution to LSS is Vertiflex’s Superion® Indirect Decompression System. This device acts as an extension blocker, allowing the spinal canal to stay extended when standing and relieving pressure on those affected nerves.

Superion is an alternative to traditional surgery that is validated by years of clinical research and is FDA approved.The Vertiflex Procedure was developed with patient safety and comfort in mind to give LSS sufferers the freedom to get on with their daily lives. In a clinical study, 90 percent of patients reported satisfaction even after five years with the Vertiflex Procedure.

During the Vertiflex Procedure, the physician uses a small implant that creates a space for nerves in the spinal canal. The implant is folded so it can be placed through a small tube. The implant arms open around the spinous process, locking it into place. It works by supporting your existing anatomy and is completely reversible, leaving all treatment options available in the future.

Get relief from LSS and give Coastal Spine and Pain Center a call to see if Vertiflex can help you.

Michael Greene

D.O.

Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment for patients who suffer from chronic back pain. It has become the standard treatment for patients who have not found pain relief from other treatments. An electrical current is applied to the source of the chronic pain. This blocks the brain’s ability to sense the previously perceived pain. Soft, thin wires with electrical leads on their tips are placed in the back near the spinal column. A tiny programmable electrical generator is implanted under the skin of the buttocks or abdomen and this generator creates electrical currents which are sent to the spinal column.

The device was approved by the FDA in 1989 and since then most patients who have undergone this treatment report a 50-70 percent reduction in overall pain. The generator can be programmed to provide more or less current so as to provide the optimal level of pain relief.

Coastal Spine and Pain Center’s physicians provide expert care in the treatment of back pain using spinal cord stimulation. Give us a call today to learn more and to schedule your appointment.

Michael Greene

D.O.

Gary Kao

M.D.

Vertebroplasty is a procedure performed when many other options have been exhausted. If you’ve tried PT, medication, bed rest, and braces without success, then this may be an option your doctor will discuss with you to finally receive the pain relief you seek.

This procedure is specifically designed for patients who have suffered from fractured vertebra or severe and prolonged pain and immobility. This includes if serious complications have arisen from either of those circumstances.

Vertebroplasty is a procedure in which a special cement is injected into a fractured vertebra – to relieve your spinal pain and restore your mobility. The procedure also entails a requirement of laying flat on your back until the cement hardens after. Some patients feel immediate relief, while for others, it can take a few days. This procedure will stabilize any compression fractures, and imaging guidance will help make your procedure a success.

Dr. Manees is our specialist at CSPC for this procedure, and he would be more than happy to discuss this option with you to get you back to a pain-free life.

Chris Manees

M.D.

Gary Kao

M.D.