If you have lived with chronic low back pain and have been unable to find relief with traditional pain management, surgery or injections, a new treatment called the Intracept Procedure may be right for you.

The team at First State Spine has introduced the Intracept Procedure at their practice for patients suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP). It is the only targeted treatment for vertebrogenic low back pain that focuses on treating the specific nerve that transports pain signals from damaged endplates to the brain.  Vertebral endplates are found on either side of the disc and can degenerate over time, causing inflammation and pain. The basivertebral nerve (BVN) is located within the vertebrae and responsible for carrying the pain signals from the inflamed endplates.

What is the Intracept Procedure?

The Intracept Procedure heats the BVN with a radiofrequency probe to prevent it from transmitting pain signals to the brain. The BVN has not shown any evidence of regeneration or re-growing as a pain-transmitting nerve following the Intracept Procedure.

This simple procedure is a same-day treatment that is performed in an outpatient surgery center. The procedure typically takes an hour under moderate anesthesia.

Unlike a lot of pain management therapies, the Intracept Procedure does not require any implants and does not alter the structure of the spine.

Safety and Effectiveness

FDA approved studies and clinical trials have proven the safety and effectiveness of this procedure. 

  • There is a less than 0.3% rate of complications reported from approximately 400 clinical trial patients.
  • The Intracept Procedure is more effective than a sham-control procedure and more traditional pain management methods.
  • The results of success are consistent across several clinical studies and regular spine practices.
  • Studies have shown significant improvements in function and pain at the 3-month post-procedure follow-up and are sustained after more than five years following the Intracept Procedure.

Life After Treatment

Due to the nature of this procedure and the use of anesthesia, patients are advised to take a short recovery period and follow some general precautions. However, most patients can resume normal activity a day or two after treatment. 

Most patients report feeling pain relief within two weeks after the procedure. What sets the Intracept Procedure apart from other radiofrequency treatments is that is provides long-term relief after only a single treatment.

65% of patients have reported the ability to resume regular activities prior to suffering from low back pain, even after 5 years. Over a third of those patients indicated they were living totally pain-free.

The Intracept Procedure data is based on 30 years of research and clinical trials. Fill out the form below to learn if you are a candidate and qualify for this procedure.