CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Chronic low back pain is one of the most common issues pain specialists see, and a new treatment called the Intercept procedure is offering hope to patients who haven’t found relief. Dr. Bhavana Yalamuru, a pain medicine physician and anesthesiologist, says low back pain makes up about 80% of her practice. “Whether it’s neck or low back pain, I would say low back pain is a little more commonly encountered,” she noted. 

The Intercept procedure is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment designed to relieve vertebrogenic pain, a specific type of chronic low back pain linked to disc degeneration and damage to the end plates of the spine. The procedure uses radio frequency waves to disrupt nerve signals responsible for transmitting pain. Most patients are able to return home the same day and resume light activities within 24 hours.  

Relief can begin shortly after treatment, but most patients see the greatest improvements between six weeks and three months. “We have data for up to about five years of pain relief in patients who have been good candidates,” she said. Referrals from a primary care provider or spine specialist are recommended for those interested in exploring the procedure. 

Listen to the full conversation here: