The Intracept Procedure: Minimally Invasive Relief for Vertebrogenic Pain

Low back pain is one of the most challenging conditions to treat. If you’ve tried all the conservative therapies like medication, steroid injections, and physical therapy, and still struggle with pain, it’s time to explore another option.

The first step is learning if you have vertebrogenic pain, the source of chronic back pain in an estimated one out of six back pain sufferers.

If you have vertebrogenic pain, our Alliance Spine and Pain Centers team may recommend an innovative, minimally invasive treatment called the Intracept® procedure.

Ready to learn more about the procedure, how it works, and who’s a good candidate? Here’s everything you need to know.

Let’s talk about vertebrogenic pain

The spine is a complex structure made up of vertebrae, facet joints, nerves (spinal cord), and cushioning discs. Back pain can be caused by problems in any part of the spine, the blood vessels serving it, and the muscles and ligaments supporting it.

However, vertebrogenic pain is a specific type you probably haven’t heard about. This pain begins in endplates, the structures between each vertebral bone and its adjacent discs.

Endplates have two layers: one made of bone and the other of cartilage. These structures have the essential job of easing stress on the vertebrae and protecting the bones from damage. The endplate also carries nutrients into the disc.

Like the spinal discs and bones, endplates are vulnerable to injuries and degeneration. Your risk increases if the disc degenerates, which places extra pressure on the endplate. 

As the endplates in your lower back become damaged and inflamed, you experience pain. This pain, vertebrogenic pain, is treated by the Intracept procedure.

How the Intracept procedure relieves pain

A nerve in each endplate, the basivertebral nerve (BVN), carries pain messages to the brain. The Intracept procedure precisely targets and destroys the nerve. Since your brain no longer gets the message, your pain improves.

The Intracept procedure explained

Before the procedure, you receive a sedative to help you relax and a local anesthetic at the injective site. Then, we use real-time imaging to see and guide the procedure.

The Intracept access instrument is a thin, hollow cannula (tube) with a needle-like tip. We make one tiny incision, insert the cannula, and create a channel to access the BVN.

After precisely positioning the device, we send a radiofrequency (RF) probe through the cannula and use the RF energy to destroy the nerve.

The procedure typically takes an hour. You can go home after your sedation wears off.

Intracept results

Most people find that their pain starts improving in a few weeks. However, it may take several months before you experience the full effect.

The pain relief lasts at least five years for most people and may last much longer because the BVN doesn’t regrow. A study published in August 2020 reported that pain completely disappeared for 34% of patients, while almost half reported a 75% reduction in pain.

Candidates for Intracept

Vertebrogenic pain may feel worse when you’re active and bend over or if you sit for a long time. Patients often describe the lower back pain as deep, burning, and aching. However, if you have a pinched nerve, you may also experience pain and tingling that travels down your leg.

You may be a good candidate for Intracept if you have:

• Chronic low back pain
• Tried conservative treatments, and they didn’t help
• An MRI revealing endplate inflammation or lesions

The inflammation caused by endplate damage is a biomarker visible on an MRI, allowing us to diagnose vertebrogenic pain.

Get relief for vertebrogenic pain

Connect online to request an appointment or call Alliance Spine and Pain Centers today to learn if we can relieve your low back pain with an Intracept procedure.