What Is The Intracept Procedure?
Intracept is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that is intended to intracept – and interrupt – the transmission of pain signals from the internal nerve inside the vertebral bone to the spinal cord and brain.
request appointmentWhy Is The Intracept Procedure Performed?
This procedure is for those people suffering with chronic low back pain for more than six months, who have not experienced sufficient relief from other conservative options for at least six months. There are also features that show up on an MRI – such as inflammation, edema, etc – that would be present. It is not effective for all back pain issues. It is designed specifically for vertebrogenic pain.
How Is The Intracept Procedure Performed?
With the Intracept procedure, the doctor makes a small incision in the low back. A curved instrument is utilized to create a channel to the trunk of the nerve. A radiofrequency probe is then inserted into the curved path and placed at the trunk of the nerve. Radiofrequency heat is then used to ablate the nerve, making it unable to transmit pain signals.
What Should I Expect After An Intracept Procedure?
This is an outpatient procedure with a short recovery time. Most patients can resume their everyday activities about 1 – 2 weeks post-procedure. You should notice improvements in your pain a couple of weeks post-procedure, with complete results noticeable after about 3 months.
Complications are rare, but some potential side effects include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Nerve damage
- Increased back pain
This is a one-time treatment that provides long-term results. Many patients experience at least 5 years of sustained pain relief.