Pain Management Specialists & Private Medical Practice in San Diego, La Mesa and Chula Vista, California
Lower back pain has traditionally been difficult to treat. Not only because the back and spinal column have muscles, bone, nerves and ligaments all working together, but also because it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of pain. For patients who are experiencing chronic low back pain that is believed to be caused from the basivertebral nerve, basivertebral nerve ablation could be an effective treatment option for you. The California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas are experts at helping their patients finally find relief from their chronic low back pain and recommend and administer only the best and most effective treatment possible.
What is the Basivertebral Nerve?
The basivertebral nerve is a nerve found within the bones of the spine, which are called vertebrae. This nerve enters the vertebrae in the lower back and sends nerve branches to the vertebral endplates, which serve as the barrier between each intervertebral disc and the vertebrae above and below it. When these surfaces suffer damage or degeneration, the nerve fibers at the endplates increase in density, which results in the basivertebral nerve transmitting chronic low back pain signals from these endplates to the brain.
In an effort to combat low back pain caused by vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction, and help patients who haven’t found relief from conservative treatment, providers might recommend basivertebral nerve ablation (BVN). This minimally-invasive treatment targets the exact source of pain and works to destroy the nerve causing the pain so that no sensations of pain are transmitted to the brain.
Who is a Candidate for Basivertebral Nerve Ablation?
Patients who have experienced chronic low back pain for at least six months, and who haven’t found pain relief from physical therapy are generally very good candidates for basivertebral nerve ablation. Basivertebral nerve ablation is also often misdiagnosed or overlooked, so patients could have undergone treatments that target other areas in the low back, with no relief provided. This is why it’s key to trust an experienced pain management specialist who is an expert in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the spine.
Patients who have low back pain and answer yes to the following three questions might suffer from vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction:
Proper diagnosis is essential for treating low back pain, specifically when vertebral endplate nerve dysfunction is the possible cause. While many patients might want to begin treatment as quickly as possible, it’s always best to try, and rule out, conservative methods, including physical therapy and medication. The best case scenario is that these methods resolve low back pain, and no further treatment is needed. However, if additional treatment is needed, your pain management specialist will most often recommend the most minimally-invasive and safest options that yield the best results as the next best option.
The good news is that in the past, the only treatment options were surgery or medication-based therapies, so this is a great option for patients who don’t want to undergo surgery and who haven’t either found relief from pain medications or don’t want to rely on pain medications.
Patients who are not a candidate for basivertebral nerve ablation include those who are pregnant, have a pacemaker or any other implanted electronic medical device, those with an active infection, Heart failure or weakened heart function, or weakened lung function.
What Does Basivertebral Nerve Ablation Procedure Involve?
The basivertebral nerve ablation procedure is a minimally-invasive and implant-free procedure that takes place in an outpatient center (meaning that you don’t have to stay the night). General anesthesia is generally used for the patient’s comfort. The provider then makes a small incision in the lower back to access the targeted vertebrae and using fluoroscopic guidance to guide a special needle into the center of the vertebrae to access the basivertebral nerve. Once it’s confirmed the needle is in the correct position, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted where the needle was and uses radiofrequency energy (heat) to destroy the nerve ending. This stops the basivertebral nerve from transmitting pain signals to the brain.
The entire procedure can take anywhere from one to two hours, depending on the amount of vertebral levels treated. Pain relief varies from person to person, with some patients reporting feeling pain-relief quickly while others feel pain relief over a period of time. Recovery is minimal and most patients are encouraged to rest for the remainder of the day before returning to work or normal activity the following day.
What are the Benefits of Basivertebral Nerve Ablation?
Basivertebral nerve ablation offers a host of benefits, namely the opportunity to provide pain-free living to patients who haven’t been able to receive pain relief from other methods or even a treatable diagnosis. Due to the fact that the basivertebral nerve does not regenerate like other nerves in the body, a single treatment could provide long term relief. In fact, patients reported almost a complete reduction of pain at five years after the procedure.
The most common basivertebral nerve ablation is referred to as Intracept, which is a trademarked term that refers to the devices used during the radiofrequency ablation procedure.
For qualifying candidates, the Intracept procedure has several benefits, including:
Risks include temporary pain at the injection site and leg pain, with the rare possibility of risks that could include nerve injury and fracture.
If you feel you might be a candidate for basivertebral nerve ablation and would like to discuss treatment options, please schedule a consultation appointment with a California Pain Consultants team member in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas.
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