How Intracept® Is Different From Other Back Pain Procedures

Have you spent months in treatment but still face each day with lower back pain? Don’t give up yet because there are other treatment options to consider. One of them, the Intracept® Procedure, can provide long-lasting pain relief if your pain is caused by a specific condition.

Our board-certified team at Alliance Spine and Pain Centers, with offices throughout northern Georgia, specializes in identifying the cause of your lower back pain. If you qualify, we can recommend Intracept, a minimally invasive procedure that’s unique from other back pain procedures.

Here’s how Intracept distinguishes itself from the rest:

1. Intracept is the only procedure targeting the basivertebral nerves

The basivertebral nerves are located in endplates — specialized structures on both sides of each vertebra, between the bone and its adjacent cushioning discs. They absorb some of the stress placed on vertebrae and protect the bones from damage. 

Like the discs and other parts of the spine, endplates — which have layers of bone and cartilage — are susceptible to degeneration and injuries. As the endplates in your lower back become damaged, the basivertebral nerves inside the endplate carry pain messages to your brain. That’s when you experience a type of back pain called vertebrogenic pain.

Only the Intracept Procedure specifically treats vertebrogenic pain. It does so by safely destroying the basivertebral nerves. Without these nerves, your brain doesn’t get the pain message.

By comparison, other back pain procedures target pinched spinal nerves, facet joints, disc problems, and various other issues, such as bone spurs and thickened ligaments.

2. Intracept preserves the spine’s structure and mobility

Intracept relieves your pain without altering the spine’s structure. The endplates remain intact, as do the discs and vertebrae. However, if there’s another problem with your discs or bones, you may require a different procedure that could alter their structure.

Other back pain procedures change the spine. Some procedures involve placing implants in the spine to decompress nerves. 

Or you may need to have a damaged disc or part of the vertebra removed to ease your symptoms. If a surgeon removes part of the spine’s structure, you need to have an artificial disc inserted or undergo a spinal fusion, depending on which part  was removed.

3. Intracept delivers long-lasting results

Intracept isn’t the only procedure that produces lasting results. Comparing outcomes is difficult because there are many back pain procedures, and individual variables — such as age, activity level, type of procedure, and overall health — influence outcomes.

During the minimally invasive Intracept Procedure, we use an innovative instrument to enter the endplate and send out a brief burst of radiofrequency energy. Heat from this energy destroys the nerve, called ablation. 

The basivertebral nerves don’t regrow, so Intracept produces long-lasting results. 

One study reported that after five years, one-third of patients were pain-free, and another one-third had maintained a 50% to 90% reduction in their lower back pain. Another study examining the results at five years found that lower back pain resolved for a third of patients who underwent the Intracept Procedure; half of them had a 75% reduction in pain. 

Qualifying for the Intracept Procedure

This procedure is designed for people who meet the following criteria:

• You have chronic low back pain — lasting six months or longer
• You’ve tried conservative therapies for at least six months but still have pain
• You have an MRI verifying endplate damage

Even if you meet these qualifications, you may not be a good candidate for Intracept if you’re pregnant, under 18, or have certain health conditions.

If you can't find relief from chronic lower back pain, it’s time to learn if you’re a good candidate for Intracept. Request an appointment online or call the nearest Alliance Spine and Pain Centers office today.