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Vertiflex
If chronic lower back pain is slowing you down, a Vertiflex™ procedure may be the solution you need for long-lasting pain relief. At Advance Comprehensive Pain Care, Inc., Munish Loomba, MD, specializes in minimally invasive Vertiflex procedures to treat symptoms of lower lumbar spinal stenosis. This outpatient procedure addresses the root cause of your pain by relieving pressure on your spinal nerves. Call the office in Moreno Valley, Riverside, or Rancho Cucamonga, California, to schedule a Vertiflex consultation or book an appointment online today.
Vertiflex Q & A
What is Vertiflex?
Vertiflex is a minimally invasive procedure that treats chronic pain of lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of your lower spine. This narrowing can result from a thickening of the ligaments around your spine or conditions like osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease.
A Vertiflex procedure involves the placement of spacers inside your spine to ease pressure on surrounding nerves. A benefit of Vertiflex is that Dr. Loomba doesn’t need to remove any tissue or bone to implant the spacers.
When should I consider a Vertiflex procedure?
You may be a candidate for Vertiflex if you have symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis that aren’t improving with physical therapy, medications, or other nonsurgical strategies. These symptoms can include:
- Lower back pain
- Leg weakness
- Loss of balance
- Increased pain walking or standing
- Tingling or numbness in the legs, back, or buttocks
If left untreated, lumbar spinal stenosis can cause permanent nerve damage that may interfere with your mobility and daily activities.
Advance Comprehensive Pain Care, Inc. offers on-site diagnostic technologies to confirm spinal stenosis is the cause of your symptoms. Dr. Loomba can also use the results of your tests to determine if a Vertiflex procedure is right for you.
What happens during a Vertiflex procedure?
Vertiflex is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that doesn’t require an extended recovery time. Dr. Loomba uses a local anesthetic to numb an area over your spine where he makes a small incision.
Through the incision, Dr. Loomba inserts a small tube to move tissues out of the way without having to cut them. Using fluoroscopy, a real-time X-ray technology, for guidance, he inserts the Vertiflex spacers in between vertebrae in your lower spine.
Dr. Loomba adjusts the spacer wings to separate the vertebrae before anchoring them. The additional space relieves pressure on your spinal nerves and eases inflammation and pain.
Typically, a Vertiflex procedure only takes about 30 minutes to complete. After a brief period of recovery, you can go home to rest. You may feel sore in the incision site for a week and should avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and other activities while you heal.
Call the Advance Comprehensive Pain Care, Inc. office near you to find out if you’re a candidate for Vertiflex, or book an appointment online today.