Intracept® is a breakthrough procedure that addresses chronic low back pain that hasn't responded to conservative treatment. It uses radiofrequency ablation to treat pain originating from damaged vertebral endplates — it interrupts pain signals from those nerves, and it has the power to deliver relief from the chronic discomfort that's been limiting your life.
If you’re considering the Intracept procedure, you may have questions about what recovery looks like, when you'll feel relief, and what you need to do to support proper healing. Eric Fanaee, MD, and our team specialize in Intracept. Here’s what you need to know about your aftercare and pain relief timeline.
For this outpatient procedure we do in the office, we use general anesthesia. Once you fall asleep, Dr. Fanaee uses imaging guidance to position radiofrequency electrodes at the damaged vertebral endplates we’re treating.
Radiofrequency energy creates heat that damages the nerve fibers responsible for transmitting pain signals from these damaged areas to your brain. The damage interrupts the pain pathways, resulting in decreased pain.
The procedure takes 60-90 minutes, and we move you to a recovery room once it’s complete. Most people spend up to an hour in recovery as sedation wears off.
Someone needs to drive you home because of the sedation effects, and you should plan to rest at home for the remainder of the day and avoid strenuous activity.
Follow all activity restrictions we recommend, and commit to participating fully in any physical therapy we prescribe. Make sure you attend all your follow-up appointments so we can monitor your progress and address any concerns.
Throughout recovery, pay attention to any signs of infection, including fever, increasing redness at incision sites, or drainage. Tell us right away if you experience new or worsening symptoms, as these might require additional evaluation or treatment.
It’s common to experience some soreness at the sites where Dr. Fanaee inserted the electrodes, mild to moderate low back discomfort as your body begins healing, and temporarily increased symptoms as your nervous system adjusts to the damaged nerves.
You can perform light activities like walking and basic daily tasks, but you should avoid bending, lifting, or twisting your back. Take your pain medication as prescribed, and consider applying ice to your lower back for 15- to 20-minute periods to help reduce inflammation and discomfort.
Sleeping might be challenging initially due to discomfort, so use pillows to support your back and find comfortable positions. Most patients sleep better by the end of the first week as acute soreness begins decreasing.
You should notice gradual improvement in your pain levels during this period. The soreness from the procedure itself diminishes, and you may begin experiencing meaningful pain relief.
You can slowly increase your activity level, such as walking further distances, performing more daily tasks, and returning to light work duties if your job allows. You should continue avoiding heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and activities that create excessive back stress.
Physical therapy may begin during this phase with gentle range-of-motion exercises and basic strengthening, but high-intensity training should wait. You might notice that you're sleeping better, moving more comfortably, and requiring less pain medication than before the procedure.
You experience more significant pain relief during this period. The nerve damage created by the Intracept procedure has taken effect, and pain signals from the damaged endplates are substantially diminished. Most people report substantial improvement by the end of this period.
You can gradually return to more normal activities, including light exercise like walking and swimming. You can return to work if your job doesn't require heavy lifting or excessive bending. You should continue progressing with physical therapy, focusing on strengthening your core muscles that support your spine.
By two to three months after your procedure, you’ll experience maximum pain relief from the Intracept treatment. Most people report at least 50% pain reduction or better. At this point, it’s possible to return to normal daily activities, work, and even hobbies previously limited by chronic pain.
You can participate in exercise programs, return to sports with clearance from Dr. Fanaee, and resume normal physical activities. You should be able to reduce pain medication usage or stop it completely.
Your long-term success with the Intracept procedure depends on proper healing and ongoing spine health. Maintain good posture, practice proper body mechanics when lifting and bending, and continue strengthening exercises recommended by your physical therapist to keep your spine strong and healthy.
Ready to get back to living without chronic low back pain? Book a consultation with Dr. Fanaee in Bellmore, Smithtown, or West Islip, New York, to learn more about Intracept and what you could achieve with this minimally invasive procedure.
