Intracept® Procedure

Do you experience pain in the middle of your lower back that is made worse by physical activity, prolonged sitting, or with bending and lifting?

The Intracept® Procedure may be your solution.

Dr. Nein is now offering this advanced procedure for the treatment of vertebrogenic pain, a distinct type of chronic low back pain caused by damage to vertebral endplates, the tissue that covers the top and the bottom of each vertebral body and separates it from the disc.

Disc degeneration, and the wear and tear that occurs with everyday living, produces stresses on the endplates that damage them, leading to inflammation and vertebrogenic pain. The basivertebral nerve (BVN) within the vertebrae carries pain signals from the inflamed endplates to the brain.

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Activity

Activity

Sitting

Sitting

Bending

Bending

Lifting

Lifting

Dr. Nein

About Dr. Nein

Meghan Nein, MD is a board-certified anesthesiologist and board-certified, fellowship-trained chronic pain physician.

Dr. Nein prioritizes ongoing education and the adoption of advanced technologies that can help her produce better results for her patients.

Dr. Nein is currently the only surgeon offering the Intracept® Procedure within a 40-mile radius of OrthoUnited.

How Vertebrogenic Pain is Treated

The basivertebral nerve (BVN) enters the bone at the back of the vertebral body (the bones in your spine) and “branches” to the endplates (that are located at the top and the bottom of each vertebral body). When endplates are damaged, these nerve endings increase in number and “pick up” pain signals that are then sent to the brain through the BVN.

The Intracept Procedure relieves vertebrogenic pain by heating the basivertebral nerve (BVN) with a radiofrequency probe to stop it from sending pain signals to the brain.

Intracept Process Step 1 and 2
Intracept Process Step 3 and 4

How the Intracept® Procedure Works

The Intracept Procedure is a minimally invasive, implant-free procedure that preserves the overall structure of the spine. The Intracept Procedure is a same-day, outpatient procedure. Patients are under anesthesia, and the procedure generally lasts an hour. The procedure is FDA-cleared and is proven in multiple studies to be safe, effective, and durable. 1, 2

Post-Procedure Pain Relief

Clinical evidence demonstrates the majority of patients experience significant improvements in function and pain three months post-procedure that are sustained more than five years after a single treatment. 1

Who is a Candidate for Intracept®?

The Intracept Procedure is indicated for patients who have had:

  • Chronic low back pain for at least six months
  • Who have tried conservative care for at least six months
  • Whose MRI shows features consistent with Modic changes – indicating damage at the vertebral endplates has led to inflammation

The Intracept Procedure, as with any procedure, has risks that should be discussed between the patient and medical provider.

Even if you are not a candidate for this procedure, we can still help with your lower back pain! Contact us to schedule an appointment and we will connect you with the right doctor for your needs.

Intracept Procedure for Chronic Low Back Pain

Schedule an Appointment

Are you ready to say goodbye to your chronic lower back pain? Contact OrthoUnited today to schedule an appointment and see if you are a candidate for the Intracept Procedure, or connect with a specialist who can help you determine the best course of action.

1 Fischgrund J, Rhyne A, Macadaeg K, et al. Long-term outcomes following intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation for the treatment of chronic low back pain: 5-year treatment arm results from a prospective randomized double-blind sham-controlled multi-center study. Eur Spine J. 2020;29(8):1925-34. doi.org/10.1007/s00586-020-06448-x

2 Relievant data on file as of January 2023.

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