Intracept Procedure new minimally invasive approach that is clinically proven to relieve chronic low back pain
San Diego, CA – Relieve Pain Center today announced it is among the first in the Western United States to offer a new approach to provide relief for patients suffering from chronic low back pain or CLBP.
Low back pain is the most expensive occupational disorder in the United States and a leading cause of disability worldwide. CLBP impacts approximately 30 million people in the United States with nearly 900,000 new occurrences each year. The majority of CLBP sufferers do not get adequate relief from non-surgical treatments and are not surgical candidates. Today, nearly 80 percent of CLBP sufferers fail to find pain relief with available treatments.
One cause of CLBP is microfractures of the vertebral body endplates. Back injury, genetic makeup, and other factors can cause degeneration of the spine, placing stress on the vertebral body endplates. The stress on the endplates can lead to microfractures and chronic low back pain. The basivertebral nerve is located within the vertebral body and transmits pain from the vertebral body endplates.
Intracept is a minimally invasive procedure that integrates two decades of scientific research on the basivertebral nerve and its role in CLBP. Following a 3-5mm incision, instruments are used to reach the basivertebral nerve. Radiofrequency energy, or heat, then ablates or destroys the basivertebral nerve to stop the transmission of pain signals. Intracept is an outpatient procedure, which does not involve an implant or change the structure of the spine. A 225-patient clinical trial demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the Intracept Procedure, proving long-term relief of CLBP.
Dr. Brandon Van Noord at Relieve Pain Center was recently the first physician to ever treat a patient in the Western US outside of clinical trials and military hospitals when he successfully performed the Intracept procedure at Scripps Mercy Surgery Pavilion.
“Chronic low back pain can be extremely challenging to treat. Right now, there are a lot of patients who suffer from debilitating pain, have failed conservative treatment, and really don’t have great options. The Intracept procedure is exciting. It’s minimally invasive and clinically proven to improve function and pain. I think we’ll be able to help a lot of people with the treatment,” stated Brandon Van Noord, MD Interventional Pain Physician at Relieve Pain Center.
San Diego and Southern California residents interested in learning more about chronic low back pain and the Intracept Procedure can visit www.relievepaincenter.com or call 619-849-5777 for more information.
About the Intracept Procedure
Relievant Medsystem’s Intracept System is based on ground breaking anatomic research that identified and demonstrated the role of the basivertebral nerve (BVN) in generating low back pain from the vertebral body endplates. The procedure uses a trans-pedicular, minimally invasive approach to reach the BVN near the center of the vertebral body and uses radiofrequency energy to ablate the nerve; once ablated, these nerves no longer transmit pain signals. Interventional Pain Specialists perform the Intracept Procedure under image guidance in the outpatient setting, with the entire procedure taking approximately 80 minutes. Treated patients report nearly immediate relief of their back pain.
The Intracept 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 accompanied by either Type 1 or Type 2 Modic changes on an MRI.