How the Intracept Procedure Can Help Relieve your Chronic Back Pain
The novel Intracept® procedure by Relievant® is sweeping the nation as a treatment for chronic back pain. Now covered by Medicare, it has passed numerous research trials, showing exceptional safety and superb effectiveness ratings.
You might worry about possibly needing surgery for a painful back, but the Intracept procedure may make surgery unnecessary. Intracept might be the next step in your care if you’ve tried other nonsurgical back pain treatments and experienced little or no relief.
At Naples Regenerative Institute, located in Naples, Florida, Dr. Flanagan is one of the first providers to offer the Intracept procedure for degenerative discs and associated back pain. Our specialist Glenn M. Flanagan, MD, uses the Intracept procedure to give you long-term pain relief.
Before you commit to using the Intracept procedure for back pain management, let’s dive into how the procedure works to treat chronic pain in the back. In this article, we’ll explore the science of Intracept.
A spin on radiofrequency ablation
The Intracept procedure is a specific type of radiofrequency ablation for pain originating in the anterior column of your spine, which flares up or worsens with actions like sitting, standing, walking, or bending.
Radiofrequency (RF) is a gentle form of electromagnetic energy. In fact, it’s the same type that communication technologies like television and AM or FM radio use. It’s been used for decades to cauterize nerves that cause pain in numerous places around the body, or even around the heart to stop arrhythmias.
When applied directly to nerves during radiofrequency ablation treatments like the Intracept procedure, RF destroys them. That makes them unable to send pain signals to your brain.
RF is highly controllable and can target specific areas without causing harm or damage to the tissues around them. The pain relief offered from RF procedures typically lasts for around a year, but the Intracept procedure has followed patients for over 5 years without pain returning.
What sets Intracept apart
The Intracept procedure specializes in treating a specific type of back pain called vertebrogenic pain. Vertebrogenic pain comes from a specific nerve inside the vertebrae called the basivertebral nerve.
When you slip a disc, or if you have degenerative disc disease, the compromised structure of your back can place stress on the vertebrae which is sensed by the basivertebral nerve.
During the Intracept procedure, Dr. Flanagan creates a channel in the painful vertebrae to access the nerve using a curved cannula. He then inserts the Intracept radiofrequency probe through the cannula and ablates the basivertebral nerve at its trunk. This is done with sedation provided by an anesthesiologist at a surgery center, to keep you comfortable.
Unlike other procedures that reduce back pain being repeated over and over again, Intracept typically only requires a single procedure. It’s quick, and you’re able to safely return to work and daily activities within a couple of days.
See if you’re a candidate
If you have chronic low back pain and would like to see if Intracept is an option for you, schedule a treatment consultation over the phone or online at Naples Regenerative Institute today.