A New Option for Chronic Low Back Pain Relief
If you've been living with low back pain for six months or longer—and nothing seems to help—you may be dealing with a specific, often-overlooked cause called vertebrogenic pain. Unlike pain from herniated discs or arthritis, this type of back pain comes from inflammation deep inside the bones of your spine.
At Apex Spine Institute, we offer the Intracept® Procedure, a minimally invasive treatment designed to turn off pain signals at the source—so you can get back to living.
What's Causing My Back Pain?
Your spine is made up of bones (vertebrae) and discs. Between each vertebra and disc is a thin layer of bone that helps absorb stress. Over time, this area can become irritated or inflamed—often due to wear and tear.
When that happens, a nerve inside the bone (called the basivertebral nerve) starts sending pain signals to your brain. This is known as vertebrogenic low back pain, and it often feels like:
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A deep, aching pain in the lower back
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Discomfort that gets worse with sitting, bending, or lifting
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Pain that’s persistent—even after physical therapy, injections, or rest
If this sounds familiar, the Intracept® Procedure may help.
How the Intracept® Procedure Works
The Intracept Procedure is an outpatient treatment that turns off the pain signal coming from the affected area of your spine.
The procedure takes about an hour, and there’s no hardware, fusion, or hospital stay involved. Most people go home the same day and are back to light activity within a few days.
Step 1
A small incision is made in your lower back.
Step 2
Using live imaging, a thin probe is guided into the vertebra.
Step 3
Once the probe reaches the pain-causing nerve, it uses gentle heat to stop it from sending pain signals.
Are you a candidate for Intracept?
The Intracept® Procedure is different from other back pain treatments—and that’s a good thing. It’s built around a clear diagnosis and a simple, proven approach.
You may be a candidate for Intracept® if:
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You’ve had low back pain for six months or more.
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Conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections haven’t helped.
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Your MRI shows Modic Type 1 or Type 2 changes in the vertebrae.
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Your pain is centered in the low back—not radiating down the legs.
At Apex Spine Institute, we use advanced imaging and evaluation techniques to confirm if this treatment is the right fit for you.
Minimally Invasive
The entire procedure is done through a small incision, using image-guided technology. No large incisions, no stitches, and most people go home the same day.
Implant Free
There’s nothing left behind in your body. Intracept works by gently turning off the nerve inside the bone—no screws, no rods, no hardware.
Long-Lasting Relief
In clinical studies, most patients report significant pain reduction that lasts—without needing repeat procedures or ongoing medications.
