TREATMENTS & PROCEDURES
THE Intracept Procedure
GROTH PAIN & SPINE
INTRACEPT: WHAT is Vertebrogenic Pain?
Vertebrogenic pain is 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), found within the vertebrae, carries pain signals from the inflamed endplates to the brain.
UNDERSTANDING THE PROCEDURE
How Do Patients Describe Vertebrogenic Pain?
The disc and endplate are both part of the anterior spinal column and produce similar low back pain symptoms. However, endplate pain is associated with distinctive changes on routine MRI called Modic changes. Patients who find relief from the Intracept Procedure often describe pain in the middle of their low back that is made worse by physical activity, prolonged sitting, and bending forward or with bending and lifting.
How Is Vertebrogenic Pain 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.
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.
IS THE INTRACEPT PROCEDURE right for you?
More Than a treatment: A Step Toward Relief
CONDITIONS TREATED:
The Intracept® Procedure is designed for people with chronic low back pain caused by changes in the vertebrae, known as vertebrogenic pain.
You may be a candidate if you have:
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Low back pain lasting 6+ months
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No relief from physical therapy, medications, or injections
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MRI evidence of Modic changes in the lumbar spine
Intracept is not for sciatica or leg pain, it specifically targets a common, often overlooked source of persistent back pain.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Safe: less than 0.2% rate of serious device or procedure related complications reported.
Durable: After 5 years, 65% of patients reported they had resumed the level of activity they enjoyed prior to low back pain in a recent long-term study.
Effective: Two Level I RCTs demonstrate the Intracept Procedure is an effective treatment compared to both a sham-control procedure and to non-surgical standard care.
FAQS: Frequently asked questions
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
and 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.
Most people start to feel pain relief within 2 weeks after the procedure. Clinical evidence demonstrates the majority of patients experience significant improvements in function and pain 3-months post procedure that are sustained more than 5 years after a single treatment.
Some patients experience 2-3 days of soreness after the procedure, but overall it is very well tolerated and most patients return to normal activities 24 hours later.
Most patients report at least 50% improvement of their chronic, vertebrogenic low back pain at 2 weeks after the procedure.
Groth Pain & Spine:
Guiding You From Pain To Possibility
At our practice, we don’t just treat pain, we treat people. We take time to understand your story, your symptoms, and what matters most to you. With every visit, you’ll experience thoughtful, attentive care that puts your comfort and well-being first. Because to us, you’re not just a patient, you’re part of the family.