Vertiflex in Phoenix: Choosing the Right Procedure for Your Pain

If you are experiencing back pain or leg pain from spinal stenosis, you might be wondering what can help alleviate the discomfort. People who have spinal stenosis often turn to medications and treatment plans to no avail. The good news is that there is hope! The Vertiflex procedure in Phoenix can help at Summa Pain Care.

The Type of Pain From Spinal Stenosis

Are you feeling numbness, cramping, pain, or tingling in your legs, calves, or low buttocks? Is there a dull, aching back pain that spreads to your legs? Have you noticed an improvement in your symptoms when you sit, lean forward, lie on your back, or sit with your feet raised? If you answered yes to these questions, the Vertiflex procedure may be an option for you.

The symptoms you are experiencing are most likely caused by moderate lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). This condition is the result of the natural aging process and daily wear and tear on the spine. The narrowing of the space around the nerves in the lower back can cause the symptoms as described.

Other pain you may experience from lumbar spinal stenosis can include:

  • Relief from pain when sitting or bending forward
  • Pain from walking
  • Numbness or tingling sensation in legs, calves, or buttocks
  • Weakness or loss of balance
  • Aching, dull back pain that spreads to legs
  • Decreased endurance during physical activities
  • Pain, weakness, tingling, or cramping in legs, buttocks, and/or back (neurogenic intermittent claudication)
  • Use of cane, walker, or shopping cart for comfortable movement.

While aging is typically the reason behind lumbar spinal stenosis and back pain, there are other factors that play into it. The following are other causes of lumbar spinal stenosis:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Inherited conditions, such as a small spinal canal or a curved spine
  • Tumors of the spine
  • Injuries
  • Paget’s disease (a disease that affects the bones)
  • Too much fluoride in the body
  • Calcium deposits on ligaments that run along the spine

What is Vertiflex in Phoenix?

Designed to prioritize patient safety and comfort, the Vertiflex procedure in Phoenix is an FDA-approved outpatient treatment that provides a substantial decrease in symptoms and enhances physical function for individuals suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis. This minimally invasive stand-alone treatment involves an interspinous process decompression (IPD) procedure, where a device like the Superion® is implanted between the spinous processes, the small bony projections on the back of the spine.

By inserting a small implant between the vertebrae, the Vertiflex procedure is designed to relieve the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) by restoring the natural space your nerves need. This implant helps to keep the vertebrae open and reduces the narrowing that may be compressing your nerves, providing much-needed relief from your symptoms.

What is the Superion Device?

The Superion® is a medical device developed by Vertiflex, Inc. that offers long-lasting relief from symptoms of intermittent neurogenic claudication in patients suffering from moderate lumbar spinal stenosis. It is made of titanium alloy.

What Are the Benefits of Vertiflex in Phoenix?

The Superion implant is specifically designed to alleviate pressure on nerves affected by lumbar spinal stenosis through an expandable structure. This minimally invasive approach is intended to preserve sensitive tissue in the back and is fully reversible, with the added benefit of preserving motion in the lower back. As a safe and effective alternative to traditional surgery, the Superion implant offers patients an option when conservative treatments have been ineffective and invasive surgery is deemed too aggressive.

How Do I Know if I am a Candidate for Vertiflex in Phoenix?

The simplest way to know if you are a candidate for Vertiflex in Phoenix is to call Summa Pain Care at 623.580.4357.

As an established client, we will work through your medical history and determine your eligibility for treatment. While it is hard to say who will be the perfect candidate, there are declining factors. The following factors would make you ineligible for the procedure:

  • Significant weakness
  • Cauda equina syndrome
  • Significant scoliosis (Cobb angle > 10 degrees)
  • Acute fracture of spinous process or laminae fracture
  • Spondylolisthesis or degenerative spondylolisthesis greater than grade 1.0 (on a scale of 1-4)
  • Prior fusion or decompression at the index level
  • Severe osteoporosis (DEXA scan or equivalent) in the spine or hip that is more than 2.5 S.D.
  • Ankylosed segment at affected level(s)
  • An active systemic infection or infection localized to the site of implantation
  • An allergy to titanium or titanium alloy

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the FDA-approved Vertiflex procedure has proven to be a successful treatment option for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The procedure has undergone one of the largest clinical trials for a medical device, with impressive results. Patients who underwent the Vertiflex procedure reported sustained satisfaction rates of 90% over five years, as well as an 80% reduction in leg pain and an 81% improvement in physical function over the same period. These findings suggest that the Vertiflex procedure can provide patients with long-term relief and improved quality of life.

Comments are closed.

}