Who Is a Candidate for the Groundbreaking Intracept® Procedure?

Pain serves an important function: It’s your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right. When you get injured, pain signals travel from the wound site to your brain, letting you know that you need to stop what you’re doing. 

But when pain becomes chronic, it’s no longer serving its purpose. Chronic pain is pain that lasts 12 weeks or longer, and lower back pain is the No. 1 type of chronic pain affecting American adults.

If you’re living with chronic lower back pain and you haven’t found relief with medication or conservative care, you don’t have to settle for back pain treatments that don’t work. Eric Fanaee, MD, offers a revolutionary minimally invasive surgery called the Intracept® Procedure to stop lower back pain at its source.

You could be a candidate for the Intracept Procedure

The groundbreaking Intracept Procedure is a unique treatment option for back pain that originates in the middle of your lumbar spine down to the top of your sacral spine. In medical terms, that’s the L3 through S1 vertebrae. It’s a highly targeted procedure, and you could be a candidate if:

You’ve had back pain for six months

Although up to 84% of American adults experience lower back pain during their lives, most cases are acute. Acute back pain may last from several days to weeks, but it typically resolves on its own.

Pain is generally considered chronic when it lasts longer than 12 weeks, or three months. It’s important to try conservative treatment for back pain that persists for several months, but if the pain doesn’t go away after six months or longer, you could be a candidate for the Intracept Procedure.

You haven’t found relief with conservative care

Conservative treatment for back pain can be very effective. There are many possible causes of chronic lower back pain, but Dr. Fanaee often recommends trying nonsurgical options before considering surgery. A few of the most popular conservative treatment options are:

Many people see improvements in their lower back pain with a combination of these treatment options, but if you’ve tried them and you’re still dealing with the pain, it might be time to consider the Intracept Procedure.

Your MRI reports certain changes

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces precise images of your body, with more detail than traditional X-ray images, and Dr. Fanaee may order an MRI to get a closer look at your vertebrae and better-diagnose your condition.

You may be a candidate for the Intracept Procedure if your MRI results show specific changes in your lower vertebrae. Dr. Fanaee looks for signs that include inflammation, edema, changes in vertebral endplates, and changes to bone marrow in specific vertebrae. After reviewing your MRI results, he discusses his findings with you.

Dr. Fanaee uses these criteria to determine if you’re a good candidate for the Intracept Procedure. Every patient is different, and you can be confident that he takes your unique situation and your needs into account.

You don’t have to live with persistent lower back pain. Get personalized care and find out if you’re a candidate for the Intracept Procedure with a consultation. Contact Eric Fanaee, MD, online or call the office.

You Might Also Enjoy...

3 Signs It's Time to Consider Spinal Cord Stimulation

Back pain is common — but if you’ve tried all the standard treatments without relief, you might wonder if you have any other options. Spinal cord stimulation targets pain at the source, and here are three signs that it could be right for you.

Chronic Pain: Symptoms and Causes

Millions of Americans have chronic pain — and the effect it has on your life can be profound. If you’ve noticed pain that isn’t going away, it’s time to learn about the symptoms and possible causes of chronic pain so you can start finding relief.

5 Essential Treatments for Disease States

If you’re in chronic pain, you know how important pain relief treatments are, especially if you don’t yet know the reason behind your pain. Here are five essential treatments that may provide relief for you.

Coping With Chronic Pain During the Holidays

Even the most joyful holiday moments can come with some stress when you’re living with chronic pain. Here, we offer a few tips on how to cope with holiday stressors to help keep chronic pain in check during a busy season.

5 Ways to Fight Fatigue and Lessen Your Chronic Pain

Chronic pain and fatigue often go hand in hand, having a profound impact on your daily life. The good news is that there are effective ways to manage your pain and boost your energy levels. Get tips from our pain management specialist here.
How Can Weather Affect Health and Chronic Pain?

How Can Weather Affect Health and Chronic Pain?

The seasons are changing. And if you’ve noticed worsening chronic pain, the weather could be to blame. Learn how barometric pressure and more can impact your health and your perception of pain as well as what you can do about it when it affects you.