Discover a New Solution for Chronic Back Pain: The Intracept® Procedure

Discover a New Solution for Chronic Back Pain: The Intracept® Procedure
If you’re one of the thousands of individuals suffering from persistent back pain, especially in the lower spine region, you may have experienced frustration after trying medication, physical therapy, or injections without long-term relief. For patients whose discomfort stems from vertebrogenic pain, a type of pain originating within the vertebrae themselves, the minimally invasive Intracept® Procedure offers a promising option.

What is vertebrogenic pain?
Vertebrogenic pain is distinct from other causes of low back pain because it comes from the vertebral endplates which are at the top and bottom surfaces of the vertebral bodies and can become damaged over time due to disc degeneration and wear-and-tear. These damaged endplates trigger inflammation which is then carried by the basivertebral nerve (BVN) to the brain. If your pain has been chronic, follows activities like bending forward, prolonged sitting or lifting, and shows MRI findings known as Modic changes, vertebrogenic pain may be responsible for your symptoms.

How does the Intracept® Procedure work?
The Intracept® Procedure is an outpatient, same day treatment that is implant-free and preserves future treatment options for your spine. Using fluoroscopic guidance, a small introducer cannula is advanced through the pedicle of the vertebra to create a curved channel reaching the trunk of the basivertebral nerve. A radiofrequency probe is then placed at the trunk of the BVN, and controlled heat energy ablates the nerve, interrupting pain signals from the damaged vertebral endplates.

Because the procedure targets the actual nerve transmitting the pain, patients often report meaningful relief of their back pain, improved function and the ability to resume activities they once avoided.

Who is a good candidate?
The Intracept® Procedure is indicated for individuals who have had chronic low back pain for at least six months, who have already undergone at least six months of conservative care such as physical therapy, medications, and injections, and whose MRI shows features consistent with Modic Type II changes indicating vertebral endplate damage. While the procedure is less about treating classic sciatica, which is nerve root compression-based pain traveling down the leg, and more about deep spinal-column pain, many patients with low back pain and radiating symptoms may benefit from thorough evaluation to determine whether vertebrogenic pain is a factor.

Why consider this advanced option?

• Minimally invasive and outpatient: patients go home the same day.
  
  
• No implants: preserving anatomy and future treatment flexibility.
  
  
• Strong clinical evidence: Many patients experience significant pain relief in 3 months and sustained benefits for over 5 years after a single treatment.
  
  
• Ideal for the right candidate: especially those whose back pain is persistent, debilitating, and tied to vertebral endplate changes.
  
  

Next steps
If you’ve been struggling with persistent back pain that has not responded to conservative measures and you suspect an underlying vertebral source, call our office at (480) 626-2552 or visit https://www.azipc.com/contact-us to request an appointment to see if you may be a candidate for the Intracept® Procedure. A full evaluation, including history, imaging review, and correlation of symptoms can determine whether vertebrogenic pain is driving your condition and whether this procedure might be appropriate for you.

Together, we can explore options to restore your mobility, reduce pain, and improve your quality of life.