Having Intracept also will not preclude you from having a future spine procedure. Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that uses an electrical current on a nerve to try to reduce pain. This means there is swelling and inflammation that is irritating a nerve in the vertebra. Cannula, the Intracept Radiofrequency Probe, and the Intracept Radiofrequency Generator. In other words, the Intracept procedure does not treat all forms of back pain, only vertebrogenic pain. The Intracept Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System is intended to be used in conjunction with radiofrequency (RF) generators for the ablation of basivertebral nerves of the L3 through S1 vertebrae for the relief of chronic low back pain of at least six months duration that has not responded to at least six months of conservative care, and is also In a few steps, see if you may benefit from the procedure, and connect with an Intracept-trained physician near you. Maybe we as pain-medicine doctors just dont want to know. The Intracept Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System is intended to be used in conjunction with radiofrequency (RF) generators for the ablation of basivertebral nerves of the L3 through S1 vertebrae for the relief of chronic low back pain of at least six months duration that has not responded to at least six months of conservative care, The PIRFT procedure is a minimally invasive surgical technique in which radiofrequency (RF) energy is directly applied to disc material. RFA is another minimally invasive procedure that's intended to reduce nerve-based back pain. Your spine is your core. For those suffering from vertebrogenic pain, the Intracept procedure provides the opportunity for patients to reduce their pain and take back control over their lives. Heart rhythm problems. %%EOF If you have a favorable response to the diagnostic block, your provider may recommend RFA as a treatment to ease your pain. During the procedure, the physician makes a small incision to insert a probe into the vertebral body. Now a new low-back-disc RFA device has just received FDA approval, and thats a problem as my patients will now be getting the same destructive procedure believing that this is helping their disc, when in fact the opposite is likely occurring. This is a cutting-edge treatment that has only recently been available due to technological advances. Someone must drive you home. Once the needle has reached the intended site, your doctor will do a test to confirm its in the proper position. A radiofrequency probe is inserted and placed at the nerve, which is ablated using a radiofrequency generator. This procedure is specifically for patients with vertebrogenic low back pain which is diagnosed by a physician with clinical history, exam, and MRI. Orthopaedics and Rehab, Back and Spine; After a day or two, you can return to your normal activities, including bathing or showering. Always friendly, courteous, and efficient service. Using radiofrequency energy, Intracept applies heat through a small probe to deaden or eliminate the problematic nerve. The number of people globally with low-back pain increased from 377.5 million in 1990 to 577 million in 2017. More in: Your provider will examine you and order X-rays or other imaging tests that are typically ordered to see your anatomy, determine the level of arthritis or other spine injury and rule out any other causes. 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. RFA is considered for long-term pain conditions, especially of the neck, lower back or arthritic joints that havent been successfully treated with other methods. Whats fascinating in RFA is that, at least in the neck, I still cant find a single study where someone has looked at this issue long-term (i.e., what happens to the neck joints of long-term-treated RFA patients). McGraw Hill; 2019. This prevents pain signals from being sent back to your brain. Pediatrics, Back and Spine; In other words, this procedure knocks that nerve out from performing its . INTRACEPT study 28: This prospective, parallel, open-label, randomized control trial conducted at 20 US sites compared the effectiveness of intraosseous RF ablation of the BVN to standard care for the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) in patients suspected to have vertebrogenic-related pain symptomatology. The treated nerve can regrow. Find a Doctor With the Intracept procedure, the physician makes a 3mm to 5mm incision in the low back and a radiofrequency probe is then inserted to access the center of the vertebrae at the trunk of the basivertebral nerve. MKT 0327 Rev. Relievant Medsystems, Inc. Corporate Headquarters7201 Metro Blvd #300Edina, MN 55439650-368-1000, Development and Operations The patient is a female with low back pain requesting an Intracept procedure intraosseous ablation of the basivertebral nerve. Patients will be randomized 1:1 between the Intracept Procedure arm vs non-surgical management therapies to treat their CLBP. Dr. Rao makes you feel very comfortable at all times. Unlike other treatment methods, the Intracept procedure uses radiofrequency energy to interrupt nerves from carrying pain signals from damaged discs in the lower back to the brain. New Patient Appointment In the case of the neck, that tissue is the little nerve that takes pain signals from the joint. This treatment uses radiofrequency energy to interrupt nerves from carrying pain signals from damaged discs in the spine to the brain. This is known as vertebrogenic low-back pain, and it was designated as an official diagnosis with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code in October 2021. This is called a Basivertebral nerve radiofrequency ablation, also known as the Intracept procedure. Facet joints are pairs of small joints between the vertebrae in your spine. Your healthcare provider may have prescribed pain medication for the soreness and pain. For example, who wants to be treated with a radiofrequency destruction device? In July 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a radiofrequency ablation device* that targets the basivertebral nerve for the treatment of chronic low back pain. Using radiofrequency energy, Intracept applies heat through a small probe to deaden or eliminate the problematic nerve. I was helping my mom find a place for her arthritis pain, and I explained to them how bad it was. This tells your provider that that particular nerve is the source of your pain and is an appropriate target for RFA. When a patient has RFA, the surgeon will use a special electric-powered tool, and this tool burns the nerve fibers causing the pain. The reason RFA is sometimes the better option is the lack of incisions and . Needle placement is guided by a special kind of real-time continuous X-ray called. Providers listed on the Regenexx website are for informational purposes only and are not a recommendation from Regenexx for a specific provider or a guarantee of the outcome of any treatment you receive. The good news is that, for the first time, I could treat patients with chronic neck pain and they would get better for one to two years from a single treatment. Most Commonly Treated Areas: Neck (cervical facet) Mid-back (thoracic facet) Low back (lumbar facet . A curved cannula is employed to create a channel to the trunk of the basivertebral nerve. When your back hurts, everything you do is impacted. Patients in the control arm will have the opportunity to receive the Intracept Procedure after 12 months. Similar to IDET, this procedure does not ablate the disc material, but alters the biomechanics of the disc or destroys the nociceptive pain fibers. Brain, Appointment Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if a treatment is right for you. In the case of a painful disc, they help get weight and forces off the disc until it can heal. Intracept is a minimally invasive procedure that integrates two decades of scientific research on the basivertebral nerve and its role in CLBP. Orthopaedics and Rehab. At the end of his story, Mr. Daly mentions he had a four-month appeal process, but he said the time and effort were well worth it. Other complications, including infection and bleeding at the needle insertion site, are uncommon. Heating the nerve stops or reduces pain signals from reaching your brain. G. Sunny Sharma, M.D., Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Ankit Patel, M.D., Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, who practice interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine, began performing the procedure earlier this year. We also offer a wide range of other treatments to help better manage your pain symptoms so you can get back to living a normal, healthy lifestyle. Low back pain is common, but it's notoriously tricky to treat. Radiofrequency ablation, also known as radiofrequency neurotomy, is a procedure that uses radio waves to heat up damaged nerve tissue. Candidates for Intracept must meet three criteria: Even then, it may take some extra work to persuade your insurer. These joints give your spine flexibility and allow movement of your back, such as twisting and bending. 5 The INTRACEPT . Using radiofrequency ablation to treat the targeted medial branch nerve in the facet joints or the lateral branch nerve in the sacroiliac joints decreases pain signals from reaching your brain. Peripheral Nerve Radiofrequency Neurotomy: Hip and Knee Joints. In the 3 years as a patient of Dr. Rao, it is my opinion that he is a phenomenal and extraordinary doctor. Pain relief can last from six months to 12 months. While the Intracept procedure targets pain coming from the endplate, he cautioned that many patients have more than one source of back pain, including joint pain and disc pain, that would require other treatments. In one 12-month study, 64% of patients who were treated with Intracept reported a greater than 50% reduction in pain, and 30% said their pain was resolved completely. Intracept Procedure (Relievant Medsystems, Inc.) for . A specialized probe is then run through the channel and placed directly next to the nerve. Intracept System (intra-osseous basivertebral nerve ablation) for the treatment of low back pain, and neck pain; . Does radiofrequency ablation treat back pain? Most patients can go home on the same day of operation. Basivertebral nerve ablation is a unique and promising intervention that I am excited to offer to many of my patients. Patients can see dramatic, lasting improvements from this minimally invasive procedure, with little post-procedure pain and quick recovery time.. %PDF-1.5 % Learn about Regenexx procedures for spine conditions. While this is a fairly new procedure, Medicare and many insurance plans cover it. 85 clinic locations offering non-surgical Regenexx solutions for musculoskeletal pain. If youve tried several nonsurgical treatments without much success at reducing your pain, the Intracept Procedure may be the right treatment for you. 191 0 obj <> endobj This is an independent prospective, noninterventional, single arm post market data collection of the patient-reported effectiveness, ongoing safety, and satisfaction outcomes for patients treated with intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation using the Intracept Procedure at a single study site. Fortunately, we now have this new, highly effective procedure to offer our patients. It's minimally invasive and long-lasting, so it's a very helpful option for people experiencing chronic . The procedure involves passing radiofrequency energy through a probe to heat and kill the nerve, thus disrupting and preventing the nerve from sending any pain signals from the damaged discs in the spine to the brain. 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