Imagine you have chronic low back pain but you could have an outpatient procedure that would give you relief lasting for years. This is possible if your back pain arises from a specific cause and you talk with the experienced physicians at Pain Consultants of Atlanta about the Intracept® procedure. Connect online to request a consultation, or call the nearest office to learn if you’re a good candidate for this innovative treatment. The team has four offices in Atlanta, Fayetteville, Stockbridge and Newnan, Georgia.
The Intracept procedure treats a specific type of chronic low back pain called vertebrogenic pain. Vertebrogenic pain occurs in specialized structures (endplates), which are sandwiched between each vertebra and disc.
When an endplate is injured or wears down due to age-related degeneration, nerves that live inside the vertebral bone — basivertebral nerves — pick up the pain messages and send them to your brain.
Your provider uses the Intracept device to heat the basivertebral nerves with radiofrequency energy. The heat wounds the nerves, stopping pain signals from reaching your brain.
You may be a good candidate for the Intracept procedure if you meet the following four criteria:
However, even if you meet the criteria, you may not be able to have the procedure if you’re pregnant or have certain health conditions, such as heart or lung problems, an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator, or an active infection.
Your provider explains the procedure, including your anesthesia options, so you’re fully prepared for the steps they take to ease your low back pain.
The procedure uses innovative Intracept devices. Your provider uses X-ray imaging to insert the slim, hollow Intracept access tube (cannula), guiding it through the vertebral bone and creating a channel for the radiofrequency probe.
After guiding the probe through the cannula and placing it at the basivertebral nerves, your provider activates Intracept’s proprietary radiofrequency technology to wound the nerves.
Though you can return to your daily activities, your provider recommends avoiding certain movements and strenuous activities for a time.
Most patients feel their pain improve within two weeks. And you can expect to have long-lasting pain relief because the basivertebral nerves seldom grow back after the Intracept procedure.
Many patients report that their results last more than five years, and over one-third say they’re totally pain-free.
Call Pain Consultants of Atlanta today or request an appointment online to learn if the Intracept procedure can end your chronic back pain.