What Is Spoon Theory?
The spoon theory explains the impact of living with chronic illness, chronic pain, and disability on a daily basis. It highlights the differences between living with illness compared to living without illness.
Persistent low back pain is beyond frustrating. It interferes with your hobbies, your sleep, and your daily responsibilities. And when conservative treatment doesn’t make a difference, it can feel like you’re out of options.
You may not have heard about the Intracept® Procedure, however. This revolutionary minimally invasive treatment for chronic pain could be the solution you’ve been seeking.
Eric Fanaee, MD, specializes in the latest pain management techniques. If you’re living with chronic low back pain, it’s time to learn more about the benefits of radiofrequency ablation and the Intracept Procedure. Here are some of its key benefits.
Low back pain is common, but it’s notoriously tricky to treat. Dr. Fanaee typically starts by prescribing conservative treatment to determine if it makes a difference for you. A few of the most common conservative treatments for low back pain include physical therapy, steroid injections, and prescription medication.
Many people find that a combination of conservative treatments effectively reduces their pain, but you’re not out of options if conservative care isn’t enough. The Intracept Procedure is designed for people who have had chronic low back pain for six months or longer and have exhausted conservative treatment options.
Spine surgery is complex, and it’s normal to be apprehensive if you’re considering it. But thanks to today’s technology, you don’t have to undergo old-fashioned open surgery to treat severe low back pain.
With the Intracept Procedure, Dr. Fanaee makes a single small incision along your spine. He uses a tiny fluoroscope and cannula to access the nerves in your spinal cord, so a long incision isn’t necessary.
Minimally invasive surgery offers a range of benefits compared to traditional open surgery. Smaller incisions are less traumatic. Recovery is faster, and your risk of infection and other complications is much lower.
Many surgical treatments for back pain rely on implants. These may include structural implants like screws and plates or electrical implants like spinal cord stimulators. Implants can provide pain relief for some people, but they’re not right for everyone.
The Intracept Procedure addresses low back pain with radiofrequency ablation. Dr. Fanaee targets a small part of your basivertebral nerve in your spine, heating it up and stopping pain signals from transmitting to your brain.
Because the Intracept Procedure is minimally invasive and implant-free, Dr. Fanaee performs it on an outpatient basis. That means you don’t have to stay in the hospital overnight following the procedure.
The Intracept Procedure takes about 80 minutes on average. Once surgery is complete, you’re moved to a recovery room as your anesthetic wears off. You’re able to go home later the same day.
The Intracept Procedure targets the nerves in your spine that are responsible for sending pain signals to your brain. During surgery, Dr. Fanaee ablates small portions of your basivertebral nerve, permanently stopping those pain signals where they start. It’s a long-lasting solution for certain types of chronic low back pain.
These benefits make the Intracept Procedure a unique and effective solution for many patients. To find out if it could be a good option for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Fanaee today. Book online, or call for an appointment.
