Chronic low back pain is debilitating. David Hirsch, MD, at Spine & Pain Specialists now offers a solution to address it.

Intracept is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure clinically proven to offer pain relief to those who suffer from debilitating chronic low back pain. It targets the basivertebral nerve in the spine and uses radiofrequency energy (heat) to disable the nerve.

The Intracept procedure is performed using moderate or general anesthesia and takes between 15 minutes to an hour. A small, specialized probe is inserted into the vertebrae and ablates the nerve, making it unable to transmit pain signals from the spine to the brain.

Treatment is available to patients who have had chronic low back pain for more than six months and have not received adequate relief through less invasive procedures such as epidurals. “Intracept is low risk, minimally invasive, and helps treat low back pain without the need for longterm medications or traditional spine surgery,” Dr. Hirsch says. “It can help improve quality of life greatly. It’s a game changer.”

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems worldwide. It affects roughly 16 million American adults and 619 million people worldwide. Back pain is the single leading cause of disability, preventing many people from engaging in work as well as other everyday activities.

Spine & Pain Specialists is a Willis Knighton Physician Network clinic with offices at Pierremont and Bossier.