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Intracept for Radiofrequency Basivertebral Nerve Ablation

Pain Treatment Procedure

Intracept for Radiofrequency Basivertebral Nerve Ablation

If you’ve been struggling with chronic lower back pain that hasn’t responded to conservative treatments, you may be a candidate for the Intracept Procedure or basivertebral nerve ablation. This minimally invasive, FDA-approved treatment targets your pain at its source, the basivertebral nerve (BVN).[1] This nerve inside your spine is responsible for vertebrogenic pain.[2]

The Intracept Procedure utilizes targeted radiofrequency energy to block the nerve from sending pain signals, offering long-term relief without the need for implants or spinal fusion.[3]

What is the Basivertebral Nerve and Vertebrogenic Pain?

To understand how Intracept works, it is helpful first to understand what the basivertebral nerve (BVN) is. The BVN runs through the center of your vertebra and delivers pain signals to your brain from the damaged vertebral endplates.[4]

Vertebrogenic pain stems from the vertebral endplates, the areas between spinal discs, and the vertebrae.[5] Over time, wear and tear, injury, obesity, smoking, or degenerative disc disease break down your endplates and irritate the basivertebral nerve, leading to persistent, aching lower back pain.[6] Every day activities like sitting or bending may increase your back pain.[3]

How the BVN Intracept Procedure Works

When the basivertebral nerve (BVN) gets inflamed or irritated, it can cause a deep, aching pain in your lower back that’s tough to treat with typical methods. That’s where the Intracept procedure comes in. It uses radiofrequency ablation (RFA)—heat generated by radio waves—to destroy the BVN, so it can’t send pain signals. [4]

During the BVN RFA procedure, your doctor uses fluoroscopic guidance (real-time X-ray imaging) to insert a special probe through a small incision and into the vertebra where the pain is coming from. The probe then delivers the heat to the nerve, helping to relieve your pain.[7]

The whole treatment usually takes about an hour and is often done with sedation or light anesthesia. Most people go home the same day.

Since the Intracept procedure targets a specific pain source and doesn’t change the structure of your spine, it’s a great option if more conservative treatments have failed and you want to avoid major surgery.

Conditions Treated with Intracept BVN RFA

The main condition treated with basivertebral nerve ablation is vertebrogenic lumbar pain. There are many causes of chronic lower back pain, but the vertebral endplates are often overlooked and may be lumped into the “nonspecific low back pain” diagnosis.[8]

Pain management specialists treat the following causes and conditions with Intracept:

  • Chronic vertebrogenic low back pain [2]
  • Modic Type 1 and 2 endplate changes (visible on MRI) [5]
  • Degenerative disc disease pain
  • Chronic disc-related axial back pain (not radiating into legs) [3]
  • Pain unresponsive to physical therapy, injections or medications [2]
  • Back pain that worsens with activity or prolonged sitting [8]

Benefits of Basivertebral Nerve Ablation (Intracept Procedure)

The Intracept basivertebral nerve ablation offers many benefits to patients with chronic lower back pain, but not everyone is a suitable candidate. This innovative procedure offers several advantages, including:

  • Minimally Invasive: Performed through a small incision with no need for spinal implants or fusion, with no hospital stay. [7,5]
  • Targeted Pain Relief: Directly addresses the basivertebral nerve, a known source of chronic low back pain.
  • ​No Implant Solution: No hardware or artificial devices are left behind in the spine. [7]
  • Quick Recovery Time: Most patients return to normal activities within a few days or weeks. [2]
  • Long-Term Pain Relief: Sustained pain relief can last five years or more. [2]
  • Surgical Alternative: Offers an option to open surgery with less risk and side effects. [2]

Consult an Intracept Specialist for Pain Management

When chronic low back pain is throwing off your daily routine, and nothing else seems to help. In that case, the Intracept basivertebral nerve ablation procedure might finally be the answer you’ve been looking for. Whether you’ve already been diagnosed with vertebrogenic pain or you’re just tired of living in discomfort, it’s time to have a conversation with a pain management specialist.

A thorough evaluation—including imaging and a review of your medical history—can help pinpoint whether your pain is originating from the basivertebral nerve. If so, you may be a candidate for BVN ablation, which could mean real, lasting relief. Your care plan may also include physical therapy, lifestyle adjustments, or other interventional options to help you feel your best in the long term.

Don’t let back pain keep calling the shots. Ask your specialist if the Intracept procedure could be your next step toward taking your life back and finally getting back to doing the things you love—pain-free!

Resources:

  1. Relievant Medsystems, Inc. Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for INTRACEPT for the Relief of Chronic Low Back Pain – The Intracept Procedure by Relievant. Boston Scientific Corporation [Internet]. Published July 21, 2016. Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://www.relievant.com/relievant-medsystems-inc-receives-fda-510k-clearance-for-intracept-for-the-relief-of-chronic-low-back-pain/
  2. Intracept Procedure (Basivertebral Nerve Ablation). Cleveland Clinic [Internet] Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/intracept-procedure
  3. Tieppo Francio V, Sayed D. Basivertebral Nerve Ablation. [Updated 2023 May 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572127/
  4. Barrette K. Basivertebral Nerve Ablation Explained Step-by-Step. Spine-Health [Internet]. Published January 02, 2024. Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/basivertebral-nerve-ablation-explained-step-step
  5. Barrette K. Basivertebral Nerve Ablation for Lower Back Pain. Spine-Health [Internet]. Published January 02, 2024. Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/basivertebral-nerve-ablation-lower-back-pain
  6. Vertebrogenic Low Back Pain. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/vertebrogenic-low-back-pain#symptoms-and-causes
  7. The Intracept Procedure. Boston Scientific Corporation [Internet]. Published 2020. Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/medical-specialties/pain-management/intracept.html
  8. Barrette K. Vertebrogenic Pain: Everything You Need to Know. Spine-Health [Internet]. Published November 12, 2024. Accessed April 29, 2025. Available from: https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/lower-back-pain/vertebrogenic-pain-everything-you-need-know
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