Living with chronic lower back pain can make even the simplest daily tasks feel impossible. If you've struggled with deep, aching pain that worsens when you sit, bend forward, or lift objects, you aren't alone.
At Delmarva Pain and Spine Center in Newark, Delaware, Shachi Patel, MD, and our team of specialists are dedicated to providing cutting-edge, compassionate care. We understand how frustrating it is when standard treatments fail, which is why we offer advanced options, such as the Intracept Procedure, to target the true source of your discomfort.
The Intracept™ procedure is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment designed to stop the basivertebral nerve from sending pain signals to your brain. This specific nerve runs directly through the center of your vertebral bones. When the protective endplates of these bones degenerate due to aging or wear and tear, the nerve becomes highly irritated, causing what we call chronic vertebrogenic pain.
During this routine outpatient procedure, we use precise imaging to guide a specialized probe into the affected vertebra. We then apply gentle radiofrequency heat to quiet the nerve. Because the nerve inside the bone cannot regrow after this treatment, the relief is long-lasting.
In fact, a clinical study published in Interventional Pain Medicine (2024) found that 65.2% of patients who were taking prescription opioids before the procedure were able to stop using them completely within five years.
You're likely a strong candidate for the Intracept procedure if you've suffered from chronic lower back pain for at least six months and haven't found relief through conservative options like physical therapy. To ensure this treatment is right for you, we look for specific inflammatory markers on your MRI scans. These markers, known as Modic changes, indicate active inflammation or wear in the bone marrow next to your spinal discs.
According to research published in the Journal of Pain Research (2022), the presence of these MRI biomarkers predicts a 65% likelihood of achieving a major reduction in pain. If your MRI shows these changes, this targeted therapy could be the key to unlocking long-term relief.
The primary difference is that the Intracept procedure offers a long-term solution, whereas traditional Radiofrequency Ablation typically provides only temporary relief. Traditional ablation targets the nerves on the outside of your spinal joints, which naturally regenerate over time, meaning you'll often need to repeat the treatment every 6 to 12 months.
Because the Intracept procedure targets the basivertebral nerve deep within the bone, the nerve doesn't have the biological ability to heal or regrow. This means you won't have to worry about scheduling repeat annual procedures just to keep your pain at bay. You don't have to let chronic back pain dictate your lifestyle.
If you're ready to find lasting relief and get back to the activities you love, we're here to help. Please schedule a consultation with our team at Delmarva Pain and Spine Center today to learn whether this innovative procedure is the right fit for you.
