Intracept Procedure

Direct answers — no jargon.

If your question isn’t here, ask us at your consultation. We will give you the same answer in plain English.

• How is this different from RFA?
  Standard RFA targets the small medial branch nerves outside the spine. Intracept targets a different nerve — the basivertebral nerve inside the vertebra — which carries vertebrogenic pain signals not addressed by traditional RFA.
• Will I need a fusion later?
  Many patients who would otherwise be candidates for fusion experience durable improvement with Intracept and are able to avoid fusion altogether.
• What are Modic changes?
  Modic changes are signal changes in the vertebral endplates seen on MRI. Type 1 and Type 2 changes are associated with vertebrogenic pain — pain originating from the endplate itself — and are the imaging hallmark of Intracept candidacy.
• Is anything left in my body afterward?
  No. Intracept is implant-free — the basivertebral nerve is heated and ablated with controlled radiofrequency energy; nothing is removed or excised, and no hardware is left behind. The bone heals around the treated area over time.
• How long does relief last?
  Published 5-year data shows that the majority of Intracept patients maintain significant pain and function improvement 5 years after a single treatment.
• Can Intracept be done at multiple levels?
  Yes — Intracept can be performed at one or multiple lumbar levels in a single procedure, depending on which endplates show Modic changes on your MRI.
• Is Intracept covered by insurance?
  Intracept is covered by Medicare and a growing list of commercial insurers, particularly when imaging confirms Modic changes and conservative care has failed. We handle prior authorization for you.