Michele says she tried every possible treatment—chiropractic care, physical therapy, and various injections—but nothing seemed to provide the relief she desperately needed. Then, Dr. Malgorzata Sidor, a WellSpan interventional pain specialist, recommended a new procedure called Intracept for people with chronic low back pain.
“We’re very happy to offer the Intracept procedure to our patients, because until recently we had no way of treating this kind of pain,” said Dr. Sidor.
Dr. Sidor explains that these bones are the building blocks of the spine, crucial for movement and range of motion. When the nerves become inflamed, they send pain signals to the brain, causing debilitating discomfort.
“With this procedure, we make a tiny incision and pass a probe through the muscle into the bone. The probe targets a specific nerve and applies heat to destroy it,” explains Dr. Sidor. “This nerve, once destroyed, is very unlikely to regenerate, providing long-term relief.”
WellSpan Health is one of the first health systems in Central Pennsylvania to offer Intracept, helping about 10 patients per month find relief for their chronic back pain.
Michele says her results were almost immediate. Within a week, Michele began to feel a significant reduction in her pain.
“I can do just about anything,” said Michele. “I have no back pain. I had hip pain, which is gone too. It’s all gone.”
Since her procedure, Michele has returned to walking. An activity she and her husband used to do routinely while they talked about travel plans and their grandchildren.
“I used to walk almost four miles a day,” said Michele. “When the pain got severe, I could barely go a mile, but now I’m walking again on the treadmill.”
Michele now encourages others who are suffering from similar pain to not give up and to reach out for help.
To learn more about this procedure or to find a provider who can guide you, visit Intracept Procedure - WellSpan Health.
