Vertebral Nerve Ablation For Lower Back Pain

Chronic lower back pain can make even the simplest daily activities difficult. At Medical Center Radiologists (MCR), our fellowship-trained interventional radiologists offer Vertebral Nerve Ablation for lower back pain (the Intracept® procedure). Using image-guided technology, this outpatient procedure can help many patients who have not found relief with treatments such as medications, physical therapy or injections. Using image-guided technology, this outpatient procedure targets the nerves inside the vertebrae that transmit pain signals. 

Vertebral Nerve Ablation, also called basivertebral nerve ablation, is a minimally invasive procedure that treats chronic vertebrogenic lower back pain by targeting the basivertebral nerve, a nerve located within the vertebral bones of the spine. Research has shown that damage and inflammation of the vertebral endplates can cause chronic pain. The basivertebral nerve carries these pain signals to the brain. During Vertebral Nerve Ablation, a radiofrequency device heats the nerve, which stops it from transmitting pain signals while preserving the stability of the spine.

Vertebral Nerve Ablation for back pain is an advanced minimally invasive procedure designed to provide long-lasting relief for some patients with chronic vertebrogenic lower back pain. Vertebral Nerve Ablation for lower back pain may be an excellent treatment option for patients these patients who want to avoid more invasive surgery and who:

Vertebral Nerve Ablation for lower back pain offers several advantages over more invasive surgical procedures. While individual results vary, clinical studies have demonstrated durable pain relief and functional improvement for many patients following treatment.

Benefits of this minimally invasive outpatient procedure include:

Vertebral Nerve Ablation is performed in an outpatient setting using advanced fluoroscopic imaging guidance.

After administering anesthesia or sedation for your comfort, your interventional radiologist creates a very small incision and carefully and precisely advances specialized instruments into the affected vertebra. Our interventional radiologist then positions a radiofrequency probe near the basivertebral nerve, where controlled thermal energy permanently stops the nerve from transmitting chronic pain signals.

Once treatment is complete, the instruments are removed and only a small bandage is needed. Most procedures are completed in approximately one to two hours.

Because Vertebral Nerve Ablation for lower back pain is minimally invasive, recovery is generally much faster than traditional spine surgery. Most patients go home that day and do not require an overnight hospital stay. Some soreness near the treatment site is common for several days and usually resolves quickly.

While some patients begin noticing improvement after the Intracept® procedure within a few weeks, pain relief often continues to develop gradually over several months as inflammation subsides and pain signaling is reduced. Your physician will provide personalized recovery instructions and discuss when you can safely resume normal activities.

Medical Center Radiologists has provided advanced, patient-centered care throughout Hampton Roads for more than 70 years. Our fellowship-trained interventional radiologists specialize in minimally invasive image-guided procedures that help patients find relief while avoiding more invasive surgery. Using the latest imaging technology and evidence-based techniques, our radiologists develop treatment plans designed around each patient’s condition and goals for safe and long-lasting results.

We’re committed to delivering exceptional care focused on patient safety, comfort and long-term results. Read the following FAQs to learn more about the Intracept® procedure.

6275 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Suite 300, Norfolk, Virginia 23502

 (757) 466-0089