FOR YOUR HEALTH: Discover a Minimally Invasive Procedure Transforming the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

An innovative procedure can help people with back pain get back to feeling better.

(NAPSI)—For more than half of her life, 43-year-old Megan Bettor dealt with bouts of excruciating low back pain. She doesn’t remember a specific accident or injury that caused the initial pain – all she knows is that it was a constant part of her life.

Megan knew something had to change and began exploring surgical options, including a disc replacement, an invasive and expensive treatment that may or may not address her pain. That’s when she met Ramana Naidu, M.D., director of pain management, MarinHealth Medical Center and interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist.

This type of pain is a relatively new discovery and caused by vertebral endplates that get damaged due to age, wear, tear and everyday living. While approximately 5.3 million people in the U.S. are living with vertebrogenic pain, this condition did not have an official diagnosis until recently, let alone a treatment.

Dr. Naidu thought Megan would be an ideal candidate for a procedure utilizing Boston Scientific’s Intracept™ Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System, which provides a minimally invasive, same-day treatment specifically designed to address vertebrogenic pain.

The Intracept system targets a specific nerve in the lower back – the basivertebral nerve or BVN – that transmits pain signals from the damaged vertebral endplates to the brain. The Intracept system uses a radiofrequency probe to heat the BVN and prevent it from sending these signals. The procedure is proven to be safe and effective, with patients reporting significant pain and functional improvements at five years after a single treatment.

“Historically, the disc was presumed to be the source of most chronic low back pain, but recent research demonstrates that the vertebral endplates play a significant role in causing pain,” said Ray Baker, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. “By targeting the BVN, patients can achieve durable relief through a minimally invasive procedure.”

After receiving insurance approval, Megan underwent her procedure with the Intracept system in November 2023. Her pain relief was immediate and, as time went on, Megan ramped up her physical activities without the accompanying low back pain.

If you have suffered from chronic low back pain for at least six months and find it gets worse with physical activity, you may have vertebrogenic pain.

Physicians across the U.S. are trained to make this specific diagnosis and to determine if treating your low back pain with the Intracept system may be an option for you. You can also use the Intracept Physician Finder to locate a physician near you to make an appointment and learn more about this diagnosis and proven treatment.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.