Posted on 10/05/2022 12:24:30 PM PDT by Red Badger
The Intracept procedure tackles lower back pain with heat via radio-frequency ablation Relievant Medsystems
Persistent lower back pain is a debilitating problem for millions of people around the world, and it’s not something that is easily treated. A technology called Intracept is making waves in this space, carefully delivering heat to affected vertebra to silence nerve signals and keep chronic pain at bay.
Intracept was developed by medical firm Relievant Medsystems and is based on a minimally invasive procedure that tackles a common source of lower back pain emanating from the vertebra. This type of pain is transmitted through the basivertebral nerve that runs through the vertebrae, including the vertebral endplates and pieces of cartilage and bone in between the disks.
With the patient under anesthesia, the technique involves inserting a small probe into the impacted vertebra and using radio-frequency ablation to heat up the basivertebral nerve. This prevents it from relaying pain signals to the spinal cord and onward to the brain, with the whole procedure taking about an hour.
The Intracept technology received FDA clearance back in 2016 and has gone on to show promise in a series of clinical trials. One involving 140 patients found 31% of them were pain-free 24 months after the treatment. Another involving 48 patients saw 69% of them report a 50% reduction in pain, and 38% of them reported being entirely pain-free after 12 months.
Another trial found 34% pf patients to be pain-free five years after the treatment. Relievant Medsystems says the long-lasting relief offered by Intracept is a result of the unique nature of the basivertebral nerve, which differs from other nerves in that it has shown no ability to regain its pain-transmitting abilities.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
So treat the symptom instead of the cause...
Had ablation performed in August for my lower back pain from 2 degenerated discs. A different technique, burned the nerves in the fascia. Time to regrow is unknown, estimates range between 9 - 18 months. Not many other options, the relief has been a blessing so far. Lots of insurance hurdles to get through, but for me, so worth it.
Is that the same as what they used to call a neurotomy?
had to look that one up, instead of cutting, they burn them:
neu·rot·o·my
/ˌn(y)o͝oˈrädəmē/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: neurotomy
the surgical cutting of a nerve to produce sensory loss and relief of pain or to suppress involuntary movements.
Had this done June 1st, 2002, after a laminectomy done November 15, 2021 failed to provide expected relief.
Pain INCREASE was shocking! I was all but bedridden until mid-August! Was actually in an ER at one point. It has finally subsided back to about where I was before the procedure, and I am doing aquatic PT to rebuild all the muscle tone I lost during those 10-11 weeks of inactivity.
The people who did the procedure simply LIED to me, if only by omission. As I was screaming with pain I asked for an explanation, and THEN was told there would be a temporary increase in pain. For how long? I asked. “Up to twelve weeks” was the answer.
Diathermy?
Focused into tiny spot....................
hate to hear that, was told I would be uncomfortable for a couple of days, guess I was lucky, no issues. My shoes are tied in the front, can brush my teeth and hug my family without pain - first time in a few years. Yes, PT to regain core strength is tough.
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i had an pain blocker injected into my back before a surgery. i was completely amazed at how fast it knocked me out. It was almost immediate. I was out before they even laid me out.
I suspect it helped block a lot of pain after the hysterectomy because pain certainly seemed to ratchet up as it wore off.
Circle back later
Glad it worked for you. My neighbor had this done and was in hideous pain the first week. I did see her walking outside the other day, but still not standing up straight.
Hate to tell ya but this isn’t news. I have had this done for 20 years as often as protocol would allow. Usually effective for 4-6 months. Usually. A spinal cord stimulator from Boston Scientific is also very effective.
Some of the back pain is truly debilitating. Certainly better to treat the cause of the aberrant nerve conduction. Any ideas?
Do they have anything like this for bad knees?
Heating pad.......................
When I had my quad by-pass, they came into the room and I remember seeing the anesthesiologist reach for my IV and he injected something and boom, lights went out, and I didn’t wake up until several hours later after they were finished....................😊
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